Consumption-based deforestation per person in China
China: Consumption-based deforestation per person was 3.79 square meters in 2023. ▲ Rising
Consumption-based deforestation per person in China, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in square meters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for consumption-based deforestation per person in China is 3.79 square meters, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.9% on the previous year and down 9.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based deforestation per person in China peaked at 4.8 square meters in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.11 square meters, in 2005.
China ranks 89th of 178 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Consumption-based deforestation per person in China, year by year
| Year | square meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2.11 square meters | — |
| 2006 | 2.36 square meters | +11.8% |
| 2007 | 2.63 square meters | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 3.24 square meters | +23.5% |
| 2009 | 3.82 square meters | +17.7% |
| 2010 | 3.94 square meters | +3.2% |
| 2011 | 3.72 square meters | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 3.9 square meters | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 4.17 square meters | +7.0% |
| 2014 | 4.28 square meters | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 4.48 square meters | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 4.37 square meters | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 4.72 square meters | +8.0% |
| 2018 | 4.8 square meters | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 4.47 square meters | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 4.42 square meters | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 4.11 square meters | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 4.07 square meters | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 3.79 square meters | -6.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3.79 square meters is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.42 square meters, 86% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- China's 3.79 square meters is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.83 square meters, 78% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.83 square meters | 2.11 square meters | 3.82 square meters | 5 |
| 2010s | 4.28 square meters | 3.72 square meters | 4.8 square meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.1 square meters | 3.79 square meters | 4.42 square meters | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % 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 0.9037 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is consumption-based deforestation per person in China?
- Consumption-based deforestation per person in China was 3.79 square meters in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest consumption-based deforestation per person recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 4.8 square meters in 2018.
- What is the lowest consumption-based deforestation per person recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.11 square meters in 2005.
- How does China rank for consumption-based deforestation per person?
- China ranks 89th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is consumption-based deforestation per person rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Consumption-based deforestation per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated average deforestation for agricultural and forestry products, per person. This is adjusted for trade, so it reflects deforestation caused by consumption, not domestic production.