Agriculture-driven deforestation in United States
United States: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 47,201 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Agriculture-driven deforestation in United States, 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 United States is 47,201 hectares, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and down 46.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in United States peaked at 121,882 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 46,496 hectares, in 2021.
That places United States 30th out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in United States, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 83,235 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 73,956 hectares | -11.1% |
| 2003 | 61,988 hectares | -16.2% |
| 2004 | 95,708 hectares | +54.4% |
| 2005 | 95,267 hectares | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 105,904 hectares | +11.2% |
| 2007 | 111,625 hectares | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 100,521 hectares | -9.9% |
| 2009 | 86,334 hectares | -14.1% |
| 2010 | 97,052 hectares | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 93,826 hectares | -3.3% |
| 2012 | 121,882 hectares | +29.9% |
| 2013 | 72,541 hectares | -40.5% |
| 2014 | 87,389 hectares | +20.5% |
| 2015 | 73,805 hectares | -15.5% |
| 2016 | 98,162 hectares | +33.0% |
| 2017 | 95,851 hectares | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 72,294 hectares | -24.6% |
| 2019 | 60,599 hectares | -16.2% |
| 2020 | 51,709 hectares | -14.7% |
| 2021 | 46,496 hectares | -10.1% |
| 2022 | 46,542 hectares | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 48,459 hectares | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 47,201 hectares | -2.6% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 47,201 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.13 hectares, 713.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 90,504 hectares | 61,988 hectares | 111,625 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 87,340 hectares | 60,599 hectares | 121,882 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 48,081 hectares | 46,496 hectares | 51,709 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More environment data for United States
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % 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 -0.624 % 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 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture-driven deforestation in United States?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in United States was 47,201 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 121,882 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 46,496 hectares in 2021.
- How does United States rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- United States ranks 30th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.