Agriculture-driven deforestation in Iran
Iran: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 16.91 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Iran, 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 Iran is 16.91 hectares, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 27.6% on the previous year and up 95.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Iran peaked at 131.84 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1.31 hectares, in 2018.
Iran ranks 140th of 187 countries on this measure, 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 Iran, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 108.62 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 120.86 hectares | +11.3% |
| 2003 | 131.84 hectares | +9.1% |
| 2004 | 30.24 hectares | -77.1% |
| 2005 | 36.27 hectares | +19.9% |
| 2006 | 21.56 hectares | -40.6% |
| 2007 | 24.16 hectares | +12.0% |
| 2008 | 59.22 hectares | +145.1% |
| 2009 | 17.95 hectares | -69.7% |
| 2010 | 27.13 hectares | +51.1% |
| 2011 | 23.73 hectares | -12.5% |
| 2012 | 50.13 hectares | +111.3% |
| 2013 | 12.53 hectares | -75.0% |
| 2014 | 8.65 hectares | -30.9% |
| 2017 | 33.41 hectares | +286.3% |
| 2018 | 1.31 hectares | -96.1% |
| 2019 | 13.59 hectares | +940.4% |
| 2020 | 1.74 hectares | -87.2% |
| 2021 | 3.46 hectares | +99.1% |
| 2022 | 28.12 hectares | +712.7% |
| 2023 | 23.37 hectares | -16.9% |
| 2024 | 16.91 hectares | -27.6% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 16.91 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 460.26 hectares, 4% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Iran's 16.91 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.91 hectares, 1.0× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agriculture-driven deforestation in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +940.4% | 1.31 hectares | 13.59 hectares |
| 2022 | +712.7% | 3.46 hectares | 28.12 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 61.19 hectares | 17.95 hectares | 131.84 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 21.31 hectares | 1.31 hectares | 50.13 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 14.72 hectares | 1.74 hectares | 28.12 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More environment data for Iran
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -30.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -21.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.4 % 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 1.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -0.0807 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture-driven deforestation in Iran?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Iran was 16.91 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 131.84 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.31 hectares in 2018.
- How does Iran rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Iran ranks 140th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 95.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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 — 22 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.