Agriculture-driven deforestation in Ireland
Ireland: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 28.56 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Ireland, 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 Ireland is 28.56 hectares, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.9% on the previous year and up 49.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Ireland peaked at 1,974 hectares in 2001 and was at its lowest, 11.3 hectares, in 2020.
Ireland ranks 128th 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,974 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 400.24 hectares | -79.7% |
| 2003 | 89.51 hectares | -77.6% |
| 2004 | 579.08 hectares | +547.0% |
| 2005 | 814.32 hectares | +40.6% |
| 2006 | 550.24 hectares | -32.4% |
| 2007 | 434.07 hectares | -21.1% |
| 2008 | 423.09 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 459.38 hectares | +8.6% |
| 2010 | 176.38 hectares | -61.6% |
| 2011 | 220.81 hectares | +25.2% |
| 2012 | 215.23 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 28.05 hectares | -87.0% |
| 2014 | 19.17 hectares | -31.7% |
| 2015 | 20.04 hectares | +4.6% |
| 2016 | 18.79 hectares | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 26.77 hectares | +42.5% |
| 2018 | 26.1 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 26.92 hectares | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 11.3 hectares | -58.0% |
| 2021 | 20.52 hectares | +81.6% |
| 2022 | 15.02 hectares | -26.8% |
| 2023 | 24.65 hectares | +64.1% |
| 2024 | 28.56 hectares | +15.9% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 28.56 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 66.13 hectares, 43% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 28.56 hectares is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 44.3 hectares, 64% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agriculture-driven deforestation in Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +547.0% | 89.51 hectares | 579.08 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 636 hectares | 89.51 hectares | 1,974 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 77.83 hectares | 18.79 hectares | 220.81 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.01 hectares | 11.3 hectares | 28.56 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More environment data for Ireland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.412 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.89 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.13 % 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 -0.0083 % 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 Ireland?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Ireland was 28.56 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 1,974 hectares in 2001.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.3 hectares in 2020.
- How does Ireland rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Ireland ranks 128th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland 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.