Agriculture-driven deforestation in Ecuador
Ecuador: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 42,043 hectares in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
42,043 hectares
Change on year
up 38.2%
World rank
31st
of 187 countries
All-time high
62,316 hectares
in 2012
All-time low
10,302 hectares
in 2003
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Ecuador, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, agriculture-driven deforestation in Ecuador stood at 42,043 hectares.
That represents a change of up 38.2% on the previous year and up 72.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Ecuador peaked at 62,316 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 10,302 hectares, in 2003.
Ecuador ranks 31st of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 38,271 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 22,876 hectares | -40.2% |
| 2003 | 10,302 hectares | -55.0% |
| 2004 | 31,474 hectares | +205.5% |
| 2005 | 34,777 hectares | +10.5% |
| 2006 | 29,396 hectares | -15.5% |
| 2007 | 54,038 hectares | +83.8% |
| 2008 | 45,054 hectares | -16.6% |
| 2009 | 50,386 hectares | +11.8% |
| 2010 | 28,034 hectares | -44.4% |
| 2011 | 36,103 hectares | +28.8% |
| 2012 | 62,316 hectares | +72.6% |
| 2013 | 37,119 hectares | -40.4% |
| 2014 | 24,448 hectares | -34.1% |
| 2015 | 21,524 hectares | -12.0% |
| 2016 | 30,446 hectares | +41.5% |
| 2017 | 50,761 hectares | +66.7% |
| 2018 | 25,022 hectares | -50.7% |
| 2019 | 24,945 hectares | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 31,847 hectares | +27.7% |
| 2021 | 19,985 hectares | -37.2% |
| 2022 | 33,366 hectares | +67.0% |
| 2023 | 30,428 hectares | -8.8% |
| 2024 | 42,043 hectares | +38.2% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 42,043 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 460.26 hectares, 91.3× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 42,043 hectares is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,620 hectares, 26.0× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35,175 hectares | 10,302 hectares | 54,038 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 34,072 hectares | 21,524 hectares | 62,316 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 31,534 hectares | 19,985 hectares | 42,043 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
- 28 Uganda 52,214 hectares compare
- 29 Liberia 50,316 hectares compare
- 30 United States 47,201 hectares compare
- 32 Vietnam 39,062 hectares compare
- 33 Madagascar 38,994 hectares compare
- 34 Philippines 36,513 hectares compare
More environment data for Ecuador
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.3767 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.4 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.49 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.65 % 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 -1.14 % 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 Ecuador?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Ecuador was 42,043 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 62,316 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,302 hectares in 2003.
- How does Ecuador rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Ecuador ranks 31st out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.