Agriculture-driven deforestation in Iraq
Iraq: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 1.86 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Iraq, 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 Iraq is 1.86 hectares, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 31.9% on the previous year and up 101.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Iraq peaked at 10.31 hectares in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.1231 hectares, in 2004.
Iraq ranks 163rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Iraq, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.24 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 1.68 hectares | -48.1% |
| 2003 | 2.39 hectares | +42.3% |
| 2004 | 0.1231 hectares | -94.9% |
| 2005 | 2.01 hectares | +1534.4% |
| 2006 | 1.43 hectares | -29.0% |
| 2007 | 1.89 hectares | +32.1% |
| 2008 | 10.31 hectares | +446.7% |
| 2009 | 4.52 hectares | -56.1% |
| 2010 | 4.74 hectares | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 2.47 hectares | -47.9% |
| 2012 | 3.16 hectares | +27.8% |
| 2013 | 2.16 hectares | -31.7% |
| 2014 | 0.9262 hectares | -57.1% |
| 2023 | 2.73 hectares | +195.2% |
| 2024 | 1.86 hectares | -31.9% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 1.86 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 460.26 hectares, 0% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 1.86 hectares is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.91 hectares, 11% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agriculture-driven deforestation in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +1534.4% | 0.1231 hectares | 2.01 hectares |
| 2008 | +446.7% | 1.89 hectares | 10.31 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.07 hectares | 0.1231 hectares | 10.31 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 2.69 hectares | 0.9262 hectares | 4.74 hectares | 5 |
| 2020s | 2.3 hectares | 1.86 hectares | 2.73 hectares | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 160 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.56 hectares compare
- 161 Palau 2.52 hectares compare
- 162 Kyrgyzstan 2.27 hectares compare
- 164 Czechia 1.64 hectares compare
- 165 Saint Martin (French part) 1.32 hectares compare
- 166 Aland Islands 1.31 hectares compare
More environment data for Iraq
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -38.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.549 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.99 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2 % 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 6.65 % 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 Iraq?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Iraq was 1.86 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 Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 10.31 hectares in 2008.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1231 hectares in 2004.
- How does Iraq rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Iraq ranks 163rd out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is up 101.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq 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 — 16 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.