Agriculture-driven deforestation in New Zealand
New Zealand: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 1,383 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 1,383 hectares, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.9% on the previous year and down 83.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in New Zealand peaked at 14,192 hectares in 2007 and was at its lowest, 1,345 hectares, in 2023.
That places New Zealand 69th out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4,902 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 7,048 hectares | +43.8% |
| 2003 | 4,925 hectares | -30.1% |
| 2004 | 7,905 hectares | +60.5% |
| 2005 | 8,093 hectares | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 10,168 hectares | +25.6% |
| 2007 | 14,192 hectares | +39.6% |
| 2008 | 9,821 hectares | -30.8% |
| 2009 | 7,075 hectares | -28.0% |
| 2010 | 5,939 hectares | -16.1% |
| 2011 | 6,479 hectares | +9.1% |
| 2012 | 7,214 hectares | +11.3% |
| 2013 | 9,454 hectares | +31.1% |
| 2014 | 8,304 hectares | -12.2% |
| 2015 | 5,034 hectares | -39.4% |
| 2016 | 6,326 hectares | +25.7% |
| 2017 | 5,040 hectares | -20.3% |
| 2018 | 3,828 hectares | -24.0% |
| 2019 | 2,914 hectares | -23.9% |
| 2020 | 2,117 hectares | -27.3% |
| 2021 | 2,224 hectares | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 2,016 hectares | -9.4% |
| 2023 | 1,345 hectares | -33.3% |
| 2024 | 1,383 hectares | +2.9% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 1,383 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.13 hectares, 20.9× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 1,383 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,101 hectares, 1.3× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8,237 hectares | 4,902 hectares | 14,192 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 6,053 hectares | 2,914 hectares | 9,454 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,817 hectares | 1,345 hectares | 2,224 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More environment data for New Zealand
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.2131 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 1.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.379 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.474 % 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 -0.9337 % 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 New Zealand?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in New Zealand was 1,383 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 14,192 hectares in 2007.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,345 hectares in 2023.
- How does New Zealand rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- New Zealand ranks 69th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 83.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.