Agriculture-driven deforestation in El Salvador
El Salvador: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 1,524 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in El Salvador, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
El Salvador recorded 1,524 hectares for agriculture-driven deforestation in 2024.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and down 32.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in El Salvador peaked at 9,243 hectares in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1,335 hectares, in 2021.
That places El Salvador 68th out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in El Salvador, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9,243 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 4,425 hectares | -52.1% |
| 2003 | 5,740 hectares | +29.7% |
| 2004 | 4,374 hectares | -23.8% |
| 2005 | 5,637 hectares | +28.9% |
| 2006 | 4,369 hectares | -22.5% |
| 2007 | 2,742 hectares | -37.2% |
| 2008 | 3,163 hectares | +15.3% |
| 2009 | 4,100 hectares | +29.6% |
| 2010 | 2,747 hectares | -33.0% |
| 2011 | 3,068 hectares | +11.7% |
| 2012 | 2,301 hectares | -25.0% |
| 2013 | 1,954 hectares | -15.1% |
| 2014 | 2,244 hectares | +14.9% |
| 2015 | 2,261 hectares | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 5,128 hectares | +126.8% |
| 2017 | 4,447 hectares | -13.3% |
| 2018 | 2,444 hectares | -45.0% |
| 2019 | 2,127 hectares | -13.0% |
| 2020 | 2,093 hectares | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 1,335 hectares | -36.2% |
| 2022 | 1,483 hectares | +11.1% |
| 2023 | 1,492 hectares | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 1,524 hectares | +2.1% |
El Salvador compared with similar countries
- El Salvador's 1,524 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 460.26 hectares, 3.3× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- El Salvador's 1,524 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,620 hectares, 94% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,866 hectares | 2,742 hectares | 9,243 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 2,872 hectares | 1,954 hectares | 5,128 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,585 hectares | 1,335 hectares | 2,093 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More environment data for El Salvador
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.31 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.1 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.27 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.28 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.58 % 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 0.0446 % 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 El Salvador?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in El Salvador was 1,524 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 9,243 hectares in 2001.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,335 hectares in 2021.
- How does El Salvador rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- El Salvador ranks 68th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.
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About this data
Long-term, permanent tree cover loss for small- to large-scale agriculture.