Agriculture-driven deforestation in Laos
Laos: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 137,705 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
137,705 hectares
Change on year
down 22.9%
World rank
15th
of 187 countries
All-time high
178,522 hectares
in 2023
All-time low
16,575 hectares
in 2001
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Laos, 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 Laos is 137,705 hectares, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 22.9% on the previous year and up 83.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Laos peaked at 178,522 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 16,575 hectares, in 2001.
Laos ranks 15th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Laos, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 16,575 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 24,786 hectares | +49.5% |
| 2003 | 30,210 hectares | +21.9% |
| 2004 | 29,669 hectares | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 26,067 hectares | -12.1% |
| 2006 | 54,411 hectares | +108.7% |
| 2007 | 64,308 hectares | +18.2% |
| 2008 | 41,257 hectares | -35.8% |
| 2009 | 73,858 hectares | +79.0% |
| 2010 | 69,768 hectares | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 69,877 hectares | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 66,696 hectares | -4.6% |
| 2013 | 60,325 hectares | -9.6% |
| 2014 | 75,187 hectares | +24.6% |
| 2015 | 80,287 hectares | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 110,037 hectares | +37.1% |
| 2017 | 97,269 hectares | -11.6% |
| 2018 | 90,895 hectares | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 121,808 hectares | +34.0% |
| 2020 | 118,174 hectares | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 114,305 hectares | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 134,229 hectares | +17.4% |
| 2023 | 178,522 hectares | +33.0% |
| 2024 | 137,705 hectares | -22.9% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 137,705 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,953 hectares, 70.5× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Laos's 137,705 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,101 hectares, 125.0× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 40,127 hectares | 16,575 hectares | 73,858 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 84,215 hectares | 60,325 hectares | 121,808 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 136,587 hectares | 114,305 hectares | 178,522 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % 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 0.4183 % 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 % 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 Laos?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Laos was 137,705 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 178,522 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,575 hectares in 2001.
- How does Laos rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Laos ranks 15th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.