Deforestation embedded in trade in Iraq
Iraq: Deforestation embedded in trade was 5,824 hectares in 2023. ▼ Falling
Deforestation embedded in trade in Iraq, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 5,824 hectares for deforestation embedded in trade in 2023.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and down 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deforestation embedded in trade in Iraq peaked at 10,760 hectares in 2009 and was at its lowest, 4,174 hectares, in 2006.
Iraq ranks 32nd of 178 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Deforestation embedded in trade in Iraq, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7,421 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 4,174 hectares | -43.8% |
| 2007 | 7,159 hectares | +71.5% |
| 2008 | 8,114 hectares | +13.3% |
| 2009 | 10,760 hectares | +32.6% |
| 2010 | 7,467 hectares | -30.6% |
| 2011 | 7,531 hectares | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 9,915 hectares | +31.6% |
| 2013 | 8,085 hectares | -18.5% |
| 2014 | 9,080 hectares | +12.3% |
| 2015 | 9,446 hectares | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 9,619 hectares | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 8,964 hectares | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 8,672 hectares | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 10,558 hectares | +21.8% |
| 2020 | 5,681 hectares | -46.2% |
| 2021 | 4,396 hectares | -22.6% |
| 2022 | 5,604 hectares | +27.5% |
| 2023 | 5,824 hectares | +3.9% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 5,824 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,506 hectares, 3.9× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 5,824 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2,937 hectares, 2.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,526 hectares | 4,174 hectares | 10,760 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 8,934 hectares | 7,467 hectares | 10,558 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,376 hectares | 4,396 hectares | 5,824 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 29 South Africa 6,288 hectares compare
- 30 Venezuela 6,210 hectares compare
- 31 Switzerland 5,853 hectares compare
- 33 Mali 5,393 hectares compare
- 34 Dominican Republic 4,623 hectares compare
- 35 Norway 4,189 hectares compare
More environment data for Iraq
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -38.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.549 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.99 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2 % 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 6.65 % 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 deforestation embedded in trade in Iraq?
- Deforestation embedded in trade in Iraq was 5,824 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 10,760 hectares in 2009.
- What is the lowest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,174 hectares in 2006.
- How does Iraq rank for deforestation embedded in trade?
- Iraq ranks 32nd out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is deforestation embedded in trade rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Deforestation embedded in trade. 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
Deforestation driven by imported goods minus exported goods from agriculture and forest plantations. Net importers of deforestation are countries who contribute to net deforestation in other countries – the deforestation that they cause in other countries is given as a positive value.