Deforestation embedded in trade in South Korea
South Korea: Deforestation embedded in trade was 27,726 hectares in 2023. ▬ Flat
Deforestation embedded in trade in South Korea, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, deforestation embedded in trade in South Korea stood at 27,726 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 45.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deforestation embedded in trade in South Korea peaked at 52,202 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 27,726 hectares, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 7th of 178 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Deforestation embedded in trade in South Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 30,675 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 35,658 hectares | +16.2% |
| 2007 | 37,442 hectares | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 33,514 hectares | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 34,542 hectares | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 38,136 hectares | +10.4% |
| 2011 | 41,072 hectares | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 48,607 hectares | +18.3% |
| 2013 | 51,249 hectares | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 43,728 hectares | -14.7% |
| 2015 | 40,725 hectares | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 52,202 hectares | +28.2% |
| 2017 | 48,991 hectares | -6.2% |
| 2018 | 47,048 hectares | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 45,901 hectares | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 32,440 hectares | -29.3% |
| 2021 | 30,604 hectares | -5.7% |
| 2022 | 28,352 hectares | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 27,726 hectares | -2.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 27,726 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,387 hectares, 11.6× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 27,726 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -332.56 hectares. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 34,366 hectares | 30,675 hectares | 37,442 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 45,766 hectares | 38,136 hectares | 52,202 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 29,780 hectares | 27,726 hectares | 32,440 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2791 % 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 -2.27 % 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 -0.2415 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deforestation embedded in trade in South Korea?
- Deforestation embedded in trade in South Korea was 27,726 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 52,202 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 27,726 hectares in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for deforestation embedded in trade?
- South Korea ranks 7th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is deforestation embedded in trade rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea 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.