Agriculture-driven deforestation in Malaysia
Malaysia: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 196,314 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia is 196,314 hectares, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 10.0% on the previous year and down 56.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Malaysia peaked at 498,022 hectares in 2009 and was at its lowest, 138,032 hectares, in 2003.
That places Malaysia 6th out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 267,005 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 259,852 hectares | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 138,032 hectares | -46.9% |
| 2004 | 264,880 hectares | +91.9% |
| 2005 | 301,840 hectares | +14.0% |
| 2006 | 259,573 hectares | -14.0% |
| 2007 | 304,834 hectares | +17.4% |
| 2008 | 278,114 hectares | -8.8% |
| 2009 | 498,022 hectares | +79.1% |
| 2010 | 350,466 hectares | -29.6% |
| 2011 | 366,158 hectares | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 475,185 hectares | +29.8% |
| 2013 | 265,940 hectares | -44.0% |
| 2014 | 451,046 hectares | +69.6% |
| 2015 | 312,206 hectares | -30.8% |
| 2016 | 377,953 hectares | +21.1% |
| 2017 | 324,419 hectares | -14.2% |
| 2018 | 291,041 hectares | -10.3% |
| 2019 | 268,534 hectares | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 193,194 hectares | -28.1% |
| 2021 | 201,875 hectares | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 170,916 hectares | -15.3% |
| 2023 | 218,108 hectares | +27.6% |
| 2024 | 196,314 hectares | -10.0% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 196,314 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 460.26 hectares, 426.5× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 196,314 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,101 hectares, 178.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 285,795 hectares | 138,032 hectares | 498,022 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 348,295 hectares | 265,940 hectares | 475,185 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 196,081 hectares | 170,916 hectares | 218,108 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More environment data for Malaysia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.65 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.9 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.179 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.25 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.33 % 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 0.9114 % 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 Malaysia?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Malaysia was 196,314 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 498,022 hectares in 2009.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 138,032 hectares in 2003.
- How does Malaysia rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Malaysia ranks 6th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 56.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.