Agriculture-driven deforestation in Libya
Libya: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 16.5 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Libya, 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 Libya is 16.5 hectares, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 18.1% on the previous year and up 452.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Libya peaked at 20.14 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.065 hectares, in 2021.
Libya ranks 141st 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 Libya, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.12 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 7.6 hectares | +143.6% |
| 2003 | 8.57 hectares | +12.8% |
| 2004 | 3.77 hectares | -56.0% |
| 2005 | 5.33 hectares | +41.3% |
| 2006 | 11.23 hectares | +111.0% |
| 2007 | 1.76 hectares | -84.4% |
| 2008 | 2.8 hectares | +59.3% |
| 2009 | 2.47 hectares | -11.7% |
| 2010 | 6.43 hectares | +160.5% |
| 2011 | 5.13 hectares | -20.1% |
| 2012 | 2.73 hectares | -46.9% |
| 2013 | 5.78 hectares | +111.9% |
| 2014 | 2.99 hectares | -48.3% |
| 2016 | 0.1947 hectares | -93.5% |
| 2017 | 7.92 hectares | +3966.9% |
| 2018 | 2.4 hectares | -69.7% |
| 2019 | 0.13 hectares | -94.6% |
| 2021 | 0.065 hectares | -50.0% |
| 2023 | 20.14 hectares | +30890.4% |
| 2024 | 16.5 hectares | -18.1% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 16.5 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 460.26 hectares, 4% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Libya's 16.5 hectares is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.91 hectares, 98% of the median. (13 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agriculture-driven deforestation in Libya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +30890.4% | 0.065 hectares | 20.14 hectares |
| 2017 | +3966.9% | 0.1947 hectares | 7.92 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.18 hectares | 1.76 hectares | 11.23 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.74 hectares | 0.13 hectares | 7.92 hectares | 9 |
| 2020s | 12.23 hectares | 0.065 hectares | 20.14 hectares | 3 |
Countries ranked near Libya
- 138 North Macedonia 18.77 hectares compare
- 139 Moldova 17.46 hectares compare
- 140 Iran 16.91 hectares compare
- 142 Syria 16.1 hectares compare
- 143 Azerbaijan 15.48 hectares compare
- 144 Netherlands 15.16 hectares compare
More environment data for Libya
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -35.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -10.37 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.386 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2239 % 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 0.1672 % 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 Libya?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Libya was 16.5 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 20.14 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.065 hectares in 2021.
- How does Libya rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Libya ranks 141st out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 452.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Libya 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.
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CSV · JSON — 21 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.