Deforestation embedded in trade in South Africa
South Africa: Deforestation embedded in trade was 6,288 hectares in 2023. ▼ Falling
Deforestation embedded in trade in South Africa, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for deforestation embedded in trade in South Africa is 6,288 hectares, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
The figure is down 12.2% on the previous year and down 78.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deforestation embedded in trade in South Africa peaked at 42,273 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 6,288 hectares, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 29th 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 11,941 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 29,699 hectares | +148.7% |
| 2007 | 19,296 hectares | -35.0% |
| 2008 | 18,898 hectares | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 22,248 hectares | +17.7% |
| 2010 | 24,977 hectares | +12.3% |
| 2011 | 28,027 hectares | +12.2% |
| 2012 | 42,273 hectares | +50.8% |
| 2013 | 29,328 hectares | -30.6% |
| 2014 | 24,758 hectares | -15.6% |
| 2015 | 25,583 hectares | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 27,829 hectares | +8.8% |
| 2017 | 28,875 hectares | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 23,817 hectares | -17.5% |
| 2019 | 19,924 hectares | -16.3% |
| 2020 | 7,312 hectares | -63.3% |
| 2021 | 9,719 hectares | +32.9% |
| 2022 | 7,159 hectares | -26.3% |
| 2023 | 6,288 hectares | -12.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 6,288 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,506 hectares, 4.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 6,288 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 315.58 hectares, 19.9× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20,416 hectares | 11,941 hectares | 29,699 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 27,539 hectares | 19,924 hectares | 42,273 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,619 hectares | 6,288 hectares | 9,719 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More environment data for South Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 8.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.275 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.05 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.59 % 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 0.2953 % 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 South Africa?
- Deforestation embedded in trade in South Africa was 6,288 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 Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 42,273 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,288 hectares in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for deforestation embedded in trade?
- South Africa ranks 29th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is deforestation embedded in trade rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 78.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.