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.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Zambia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 23,847 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 33,597 hectares | +40.9% |
| 2003 | 31,413 hectares | -6.5% |
| 2004 | 22,582 hectares | -28.1% |
| 2005 | 43,000 hectares | +90.4% |
| 2006 | 31,293 hectares | -27.2% |
| 2007 | 37,837 hectares | +20.9% |
| 2008 | 52,012 hectares | +37.5% |
| 2009 | 97,245 hectares | +87.0% |
| 2010 | 134,645 hectares | +38.5% |
| 2011 | 51,213 hectares | -62.0% |
| 2012 | 98,749 hectares | +92.8% |
| 2013 | 52,558 hectares | -46.8% |
| 2014 | 79,492 hectares | +51.2% |
| 2015 | 59,956 hectares | -24.6% |
| 2016 | 93,248 hectares | +55.5% |
| 2017 | 115,360 hectares | +23.7% |
| 2018 | 100,877 hectares | -12.6% |
| 2019 | 85,090 hectares | -15.6% |
| 2020 | 119,942 hectares | +41.0% |
| 2021 | 156,080 hectares | +30.1% |
| 2022 | 133,366 hectares | -14.6% |
| 2023 | 141,849 hectares | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 168,811 hectares | +19.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 168,811 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,953 hectares, 86.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 168,811 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,723 hectares, 45.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
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
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.74 % 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 3.49 % 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 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.