Agriculture-driven deforestation in Zambia
Zambia: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 168,811 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Zambia, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 168,811 hectares for agriculture-driven deforestation in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 19.0% on the previous year and up 112.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Zambia peaked at 168,811 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 22,582 hectares, in 2004.
Zambia ranks 11th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41,425 hectares | 22,582 hectares | 97,245 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 87,119 hectares | 51,213 hectares | 134,645 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 144,010 hectares | 119,942 hectares | 168,811 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More environment data for Zambia
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 38.52 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 1.81 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 6.39 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 2.21 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 8.56 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0539 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 18.28 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0026 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0155 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.04 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agriculture-driven deforestation in Zambia?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Zambia was 168,811 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 168,811 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 22,582 hectares in 2004.
- How does Zambia rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Zambia ranks 11th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 112.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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.