Agriculture-driven deforestation in Switzerland
Switzerland: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 5.08 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
5.08 hectares
Change on year
up 24.7%
World rank
158th
of 187 countries
All-time high
26.78 hectares
in 2004
All-time low
2.92 hectares
in 2022
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Switzerland, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, agriculture-driven deforestation in Switzerland stood at 5.08 hectares.
That represents a change of up 24.7% on the previous year and down 59.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Switzerland peaked at 26.78 hectares in 2004 and was at its lowest, 2.92 hectares, in 2022.
That places Switzerland 158th out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4.98 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 7.84 hectares | +57.6% |
| 2003 | 12.23 hectares | +55.9% |
| 2004 | 26.78 hectares | +119.1% |
| 2005 | 7.92 hectares | -70.4% |
| 2006 | 13.41 hectares | +69.5% |
| 2007 | 17.61 hectares | +31.3% |
| 2008 | 18.77 hectares | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 14.39 hectares | -23.4% |
| 2010 | 18.69 hectares | +29.9% |
| 2011 | 18.59 hectares | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 18.04 hectares | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 13.64 hectares | -24.4% |
| 2014 | 12.5 hectares | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 8.7 hectares | -30.4% |
| 2016 | 14.22 hectares | +63.4% |
| 2017 | 22.26 hectares | +56.6% |
| 2018 | 15.2 hectares | -31.7% |
| 2019 | 20.11 hectares | +32.3% |
| 2020 | 7.68 hectares | -61.8% |
| 2021 | 3.59 hectares | -53.3% |
| 2022 | 2.92 hectares | -18.7% |
| 2023 | 4.08 hectares | +39.9% |
| 2024 | 5.08 hectares | +24.7% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 5.08 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 66.13 hectares, 8% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 5.08 hectares is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 44.3 hectares, 11% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.77 hectares | 4.98 hectares | 26.78 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 16.2 hectares | 8.7 hectares | 22.26 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.67 hectares | 2.92 hectares | 7.68 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
- 155 Cayman Islands 6.18 hectares compare
- 156 United States Virgin Islands 6.16 hectares compare
- 157 Reunion 6.11 hectares compare
- 159 Slovakia 5.08 hectares compare
- 160 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.56 hectares compare
- 161 Palau 2.52 hectares compare
More environment data for Switzerland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.2925 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.4333 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.458 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.33 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2741 % 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 0.0914 % 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 Switzerland?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Switzerland was 5.08 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 26.78 hectares in 2004.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.92 hectares in 2022.
- How does Switzerland rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Switzerland ranks 158th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.