Consumption-based deforestation per person in Rwanda
Rwanda: Consumption-based deforestation per person was 1.99 square meters in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Consumption-based deforestation per person in Rwanda, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in square meters.
Analysis
Rwanda recorded 1.99 square meters for consumption-based deforestation per person in 2023.
That represents a change of down 13.1% on the previous year and down 68.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based deforestation per person in Rwanda peaked at 10.26 square meters in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.26 square meters, in 2005.
That places Rwanda 117th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Consumption-based deforestation per person in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | square meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1.26 square meters | — |
| 2006 | 1.53 square meters | +21.9% |
| 2007 | 2.12 square meters | +38.5% |
| 2008 | 2.95 square meters | +39.3% |
| 2009 | 4.05 square meters | +37.2% |
| 2010 | 10.26 square meters | +153.3% |
| 2011 | 7.17 square meters | -30.2% |
| 2012 | 6.29 square meters | -12.2% |
| 2013 | 6.23 square meters | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 5.37 square meters | -13.8% |
| 2015 | 4.36 square meters | -18.7% |
| 2016 | 4.17 square meters | -4.5% |
| 2017 | 3.58 square meters | -14.2% |
| 2018 | 3.53 square meters | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 3.26 square meters | -7.8% |
| 2020 | 3.3 square meters | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 5.66 square meters | +71.5% |
| 2022 | 2.3 square meters | -59.5% |
| 2023 | 1.99 square meters | -13.1% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 1.99 square meters is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.45 square meters, 81% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 1.99 square meters is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.39 square meters, 59% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Consumption-based deforestation per person in Rwanda changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +153.3% | 4.05 square meters | 10.26 square meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.38 square meters | 1.26 square meters | 4.05 square meters | 5 |
| 2010s | 5.42 square meters | 3.26 square meters | 10.26 square meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.31 square meters | 1.99 square meters | 5.66 square meters | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More environment data for Rwanda
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate -31.63 % change on previous year (2013)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2013)
- Temperature change 1.35 °C (2013)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.0359 % 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 -1.42 % 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 consumption-based deforestation per person in Rwanda?
- Consumption-based deforestation per person in Rwanda was 1.99 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 10.26 square meters in 2010.
- What is the lowest consumption-based deforestation per person recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.26 square meters in 2005.
- How does Rwanda rank for consumption-based deforestation per person?
- Rwanda ranks 117th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is consumption-based deforestation per person rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 68.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.