Agriculture-driven deforestation in Nepal
Nepal: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 823.17 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Nepal, 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 Nepal is 823.17 hectares, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 14.7% on the previous year and up 99.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Nepal peaked at 2,263 hectares in 2009 and was at its lowest, 147.21 hectares, in 2015.
Nepal ranks 77th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 771.95 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 1,038 hectares | +34.5% |
| 2003 | 939.11 hectares | -9.5% |
| 2004 | 1,265 hectares | +34.7% |
| 2005 | 1,332 hectares | +5.3% |
| 2006 | 1,745 hectares | +31.0% |
| 2007 | 1,575 hectares | -9.8% |
| 2008 | 1,592 hectares | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 2,263 hectares | +42.1% |
| 2010 | 1,156 hectares | -48.9% |
| 2011 | 1,353 hectares | +17.0% |
| 2012 | 2,124 hectares | +57.0% |
| 2013 | 303.54 hectares | -85.7% |
| 2014 | 413.75 hectares | +36.3% |
| 2015 | 147.21 hectares | -64.4% |
| 2016 | 216.18 hectares | +46.9% |
| 2017 | 253.7 hectares | +17.4% |
| 2018 | 377.43 hectares | +48.8% |
| 2019 | 605.5 hectares | +60.4% |
| 2020 | 757.24 hectares | +25.1% |
| 2021 | 906.82 hectares | +19.8% |
| 2022 | 643.45 hectares | -29.0% |
| 2023 | 717.6 hectares | +11.5% |
| 2024 | 823.17 hectares | +14.7% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 823.17 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,953 hectares, 42% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 823.17 hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 1,708 hectares, 48% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,391 hectares | 771.95 hectares | 2,263 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 694.98 hectares | 147.21 hectares | 2,124 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 769.66 hectares | 643.45 hectares | 906.82 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More environment data for Nepal
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.41 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.43 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.54 % 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 -6.53 % 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 Nepal?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Nepal was 823.17 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 2,263 hectares in 2009.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 147.21 hectares in 2015.
- How does Nepal rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Nepal ranks 77th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 99.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.