Agriculture-driven deforestation in North Korea
North Korea: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 719.97 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in North Korea, 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 North Korea is 719.97 hectares, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 52.9% on the previous year and down 78.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in North Korea peaked at 6,514 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 643.85 hectares, in 2015.
North Korea ranks 82nd 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,985 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 1,178 hectares | -40.7% |
| 2003 | 1,239 hectares | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 2,264 hectares | +82.8% |
| 2005 | 3,350 hectares | +48.0% |
| 2006 | 2,818 hectares | -15.9% |
| 2007 | 4,817 hectares | +70.9% |
| 2008 | 6,328 hectares | +31.4% |
| 2009 | 4,142 hectares | -34.5% |
| 2010 | 6,125 hectares | +47.9% |
| 2011 | 830.27 hectares | -86.4% |
| 2012 | 6,514 hectares | +684.6% |
| 2013 | 697.65 hectares | -89.3% |
| 2014 | 3,387 hectares | +385.5% |
| 2015 | 643.85 hectares | -81.0% |
| 2016 | 713.48 hectares | +10.8% |
| 2017 | 885.62 hectares | +24.1% |
| 2018 | 699.02 hectares | -21.1% |
| 2019 | 1,962 hectares | +180.7% |
| 2020 | 1,649 hectares | -16.0% |
| 2021 | 1,690 hectares | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 1,229 hectares | -27.3% |
| 2023 | 1,529 hectares | +24.4% |
| 2024 | 719.97 hectares | -52.9% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 719.97 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 2,362 hectares, 30% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 719.97 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,101 hectares, 65% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agriculture-driven deforestation in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +684.6% | 830.27 hectares | 6,514 hectares |
| 2014 | +385.5% | 697.65 hectares | 3,387 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,124 hectares | 1,178 hectares | 6,328 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 2,246 hectares | 643.85 hectares | 6,514 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,363 hectares | 719.97 hectares | 1,690 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More environment data for North Korea
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) 0.8843 % change on previous year (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Industrial Processes (Mt CO2e) 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt) 0.9455 % change on previous year (2024)
- Heating Degree Days 6,917 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 854.46 (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual -0.97 % change on previous year (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 0.7752 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture-driven deforestation in North Korea?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in North Korea was 719.97 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6,514 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 643.85 hectares in 2015.
- How does North Korea rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- North Korea ranks 82nd out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 78.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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.