Agriculture-driven deforestation in South Korea
South Korea: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 87.18 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in South 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 South Korea is 87.18 hectares, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 17.8% on the previous year and down 32.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in South Korea peaked at 798.56 hectares in 2008 and was at its lowest, 64.23 hectares, in 2002.
South Korea ranks 111th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 105.11 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 64.23 hectares | -38.9% |
| 2003 | 87.68 hectares | +36.5% |
| 2004 | 390.19 hectares | +345.0% |
| 2005 | 252.71 hectares | -35.2% |
| 2006 | 368.34 hectares | +45.8% |
| 2007 | 229.99 hectares | -37.6% |
| 2008 | 798.56 hectares | +247.2% |
| 2009 | 413.45 hectares | -48.2% |
| 2010 | 382.54 hectares | -7.5% |
| 2011 | 224.03 hectares | -41.4% |
| 2012 | 535.02 hectares | +138.8% |
| 2013 | 82.57 hectares | -84.6% |
| 2014 | 129.01 hectares | +56.2% |
| 2015 | 156.95 hectares | +21.7% |
| 2016 | 179.64 hectares | +14.5% |
| 2017 | 109.91 hectares | -38.8% |
| 2018 | 190.7 hectares | +73.5% |
| 2019 | 145.13 hectares | -23.9% |
| 2020 | 79.99 hectares | -44.9% |
| 2021 | 65.78 hectares | -17.8% |
| 2022 | 68.27 hectares | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 106.05 hectares | +55.4% |
| 2024 | 87.18 hectares | -17.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 87.18 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.13 hectares, 1.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 87.18 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,101 hectares, 8% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agriculture-driven deforestation in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +345.0% | 87.68 hectares | 390.19 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 301.14 hectares | 64.23 hectares | 798.56 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 213.55 hectares | 82.57 hectares | 535.02 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 81.45 hectares | 65.78 hectares | 106.05 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2791 % 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 -2.27 % 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 -0.2415 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture-driven deforestation in South Korea?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in South Korea was 87.18 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 798.56 hectares in 2008.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.23 hectares in 2002.
- How does South Korea rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- South Korea ranks 111th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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.