Agriculture-driven deforestation in Madagascar
Madagascar: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 38,994 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
38,994 hectares
Change on year
down 27.8%
World rank
33rd
of 187 countries
All-time high
98,049 hectares
in 2017
All-time low
16,410 hectares
in 2001
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Madagascar, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Madagascar recorded 38,994 hectares for agriculture-driven deforestation in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 27.8% on the previous year and down 49.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Madagascar peaked at 98,049 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 16,410 hectares, in 2001.
That places Madagascar 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 16,410 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 23,589 hectares | +43.7% |
| 2003 | 24,438 hectares | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 18,250 hectares | -25.3% |
| 2005 | 29,309 hectares | +60.6% |
| 2006 | 35,019 hectares | +19.5% |
| 2007 | 57,604 hectares | +64.5% |
| 2008 | 44,182 hectares | -23.3% |
| 2009 | 43,463 hectares | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 40,063 hectares | -7.8% |
| 2011 | 43,505 hectares | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 34,997 hectares | -19.6% |
| 2013 | 45,588 hectares | +30.3% |
| 2014 | 76,830 hectares | +68.5% |
| 2015 | 53,068 hectares | -30.9% |
| 2016 | 53,812 hectares | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 98,049 hectares | +82.2% |
| 2018 | 66,080 hectares | -32.6% |
| 2019 | 52,466 hectares | -20.6% |
| 2020 | 38,893 hectares | -25.9% |
| 2021 | 47,550 hectares | +22.3% |
| 2022 | 43,732 hectares | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 54,042 hectares | +23.6% |
| 2024 | 38,994 hectares | -27.8% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 38,994 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 2,362 hectares, 16.5× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 38,994 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,723 hectares, 10.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 32,474 hectares | 16,410 hectares | 57,604 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 56,446 hectares | 34,997 hectares | 98,049 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 44,642 hectares | 38,893 hectares | 54,042 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
- 30 United States 47,201 hectares compare
- 31 Ecuador 42,043 hectares compare
- 32 Vietnam 39,062 hectares compare
- 34 Philippines 36,513 hectares compare
- 35 India 34,636 hectares compare
- 36 Central African Republic 33,249 hectares compare
More environment data for Madagascar
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.297 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.17 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2369 % 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 -1.01 % 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture-driven deforestation in Madagascar?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Madagascar was 38,994 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 Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 98,049 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,410 hectares in 2001.
- How does Madagascar rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Madagascar ranks 33rd out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Madagascar 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.