Agriculture-driven deforestation in India
India: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 34,636 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
34,636 hectares
Change on year
down 16.5%
World rank
35th
of 187 countries
All-time high
45,266 hectares
in 2011
All-time low
13,580 hectares
in 2013
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Agriculture-driven deforestation in India, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for agriculture-driven deforestation in India is 34,636 hectares, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 16.5% on the previous year and up 36.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in India peaked at 45,266 hectares in 2011 and was at its lowest, 13,580 hectares, in 2013.
India ranks 35th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in India, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 16,976 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 15,497 hectares | -8.7% |
| 2003 | 13,943 hectares | -10.0% |
| 2004 | 24,274 hectares | +74.1% |
| 2005 | 19,428 hectares | -20.0% |
| 2006 | 24,234 hectares | +24.7% |
| 2007 | 31,122 hectares | +28.4% |
| 2008 | 36,150 hectares | +16.2% |
| 2009 | 32,716 hectares | -9.5% |
| 2010 | 18,795 hectares | -42.6% |
| 2011 | 45,266 hectares | +140.8% |
| 2012 | 34,428 hectares | -23.9% |
| 2013 | 13,580 hectares | -60.6% |
| 2014 | 25,404 hectares | +87.1% |
| 2015 | 14,532 hectares | -42.8% |
| 2016 | 26,906 hectares | +85.1% |
| 2017 | 29,178 hectares | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 23,344 hectares | -20.0% |
| 2019 | 21,906 hectares | -6.2% |
| 2020 | 24,982 hectares | +14.0% |
| 2021 | 24,282 hectares | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 26,906 hectares | +10.8% |
| 2023 | 41,499 hectares | +54.2% |
| 2024 | 34,636 hectares | -16.5% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 34,636 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,953 hectares, 17.7× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- India's 34,636 hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 1,708 hectares, 20.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23,816 hectares | 13,943 hectares | 36,150 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 25,334 hectares | 13,580 hectares | 45,266 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 30,461 hectares | 24,282 hectares | 41,499 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 32 Vietnam 39,062 hectares compare
- 33 Madagascar 38,994 hectares compare
- 34 Philippines 36,513 hectares compare
- 36 Central African Republic 33,249 hectares compare
- 37 Guinea 32,983 hectares compare
- 38 Ethiopia 20,253 hectares compare
More environment data for India
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 11.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 12.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.954 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.92 % 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 1.12 % 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 India?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in India was 34,636 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 45,266 hectares in 2011.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,580 hectares in 2013.
- How does India rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- India ranks 35th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.