Deforestation embedded in trade in United States
United States: Deforestation embedded in trade was 191,046 hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising
Deforestation embedded in trade in United States, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, deforestation embedded in trade in United States stood at 191,046 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% on the previous year and up 41.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deforestation embedded in trade in United States peaked at 206,356 hectares in 2019 and was at its lowest, 113,078 hectares, in 2010.
That places United States 1st out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Deforestation embedded in trade in United States, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 151,291 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 136,329 hectares | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 126,555 hectares | -7.2% |
| 2008 | 113,193 hectares | -10.6% |
| 2009 | 119,681 hectares | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 113,078 hectares | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 117,683 hectares | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 136,357 hectares | +15.9% |
| 2013 | 135,117 hectares | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 139,044 hectares | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 145,623 hectares | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 171,683 hectares | +17.9% |
| 2017 | 190,841 hectares | +11.2% |
| 2018 | 201,729 hectares | +5.7% |
| 2019 | 206,356 hectares | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 200,055 hectares | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 204,986 hectares | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 205,364 hectares | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 191,046 hectares | -7.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 191,046 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,387 hectares, 80.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 129,410 hectares | 113,193 hectares | 151,291 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 155,751 hectares | 113,078 hectares | 206,356 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 200,363 hectares | 191,046 hectares | 205,364 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More environment data for United States
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % 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 -0.624 % 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 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is deforestation embedded in trade in United States?
- Deforestation embedded in trade in United States was 191,046 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 206,356 hectares in 2019.
- What is the lowest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 113,078 hectares in 2010.
- How does United States rank for deforestation embedded in trade?
- United States ranks 1st out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is deforestation embedded in trade rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.