Agriculture-driven deforestation in Canada
Canada: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 12,630 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Canada, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Canada recorded 12,630 hectares for agriculture-driven deforestation in 2024.
The figure is up 22.4% on the previous year and down 32.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Canada peaked at 29,658 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 10,058 hectares, in 2003.
That places Canada 42nd out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Canada, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 13,765 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 13,313 hectares | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 10,058 hectares | -24.4% |
| 2004 | 18,116 hectares | +80.1% |
| 2005 | 16,572 hectares | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 18,995 hectares | +14.6% |
| 2007 | 11,554 hectares | -39.2% |
| 2008 | 12,930 hectares | +11.9% |
| 2009 | 13,977 hectares | +8.1% |
| 2010 | 13,085 hectares | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 12,342 hectares | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 27,375 hectares | +121.8% |
| 2013 | 12,332 hectares | -55.0% |
| 2014 | 18,639 hectares | +51.1% |
| 2015 | 19,896 hectares | +6.7% |
| 2016 | 29,658 hectares | +49.1% |
| 2017 | 25,083 hectares | -15.4% |
| 2018 | 23,398 hectares | -6.7% |
| 2019 | 17,769 hectares | -24.1% |
| 2020 | 15,166 hectares | -14.6% |
| 2021 | 17,694 hectares | +16.7% |
| 2022 | 11,505 hectares | -35.0% |
| 2023 | 10,316 hectares | -10.3% |
| 2024 | 12,630 hectares | +22.4% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 12,630 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.13 hectares, 191.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14,364 hectares | 10,058 hectares | 18,995 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 19,958 hectares | 12,332 hectares | 29,658 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,462 hectares | 10,316 hectares | 17,694 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More environment data for Canada
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.642 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.96 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.7 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.3398 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture-driven deforestation in Canada?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Canada was 12,630 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 29,658 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,058 hectares in 2003.
- How does Canada rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Canada ranks 42nd out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Agriculture-driven deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Long-term, permanent tree cover loss for small- to large-scale agriculture.