Deforestation embedded in trade in Zambia
Zambia: Deforestation embedded in trade was 242.33 hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising
Deforestation embedded in trade in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 242.33 hectares, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
The figure is up 459.0% on the previous year and up 103.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deforestation embedded in trade in Zambia peaked at 242.33 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, -14,343 hectares, in 2018.
That places Zambia 117th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Deforestation embedded in trade in Zambia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | -5,143 hectares | — |
| 2006 | -5,558 hectares | +8.1% |
| 2007 | -6,262 hectares | +12.7% |
| 2008 | -7,979 hectares | +27.4% |
| 2009 | -8,549 hectares | +7.1% |
| 2010 | -11,276 hectares | +31.9% |
| 2011 | -10,910 hectares | -3.2% |
| 2012 | -12,916 hectares | +18.4% |
| 2013 | -6,636 hectares | -48.6% |
| 2014 | -12,915 hectares | +94.6% |
| 2015 | -8,677 hectares | -32.8% |
| 2016 | -12,146 hectares | +40.0% |
| 2017 | -9,777 hectares | -19.5% |
| 2018 | -14,343 hectares | +46.7% |
| 2019 | -11,974 hectares | -16.5% |
| 2020 | -12,376 hectares | +3.4% |
| 2021 | -6,958 hectares | -43.8% |
| 2022 | 43.35 hectares | -100.6% |
| 2023 | 242.33 hectares | +459.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 242.33 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 966.34 hectares, 25% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 242.33 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 315.58 hectares, 77% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Deforestation embedded in trade in Zambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +459.0% | 43.35 hectares | 242.33 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -6,698 hectares | -8,549 hectares | -5,143 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | -11,157 hectares | -14,343 hectares | -6,636 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | -4,762 hectares | -12,376 hectares | 242.33 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More environment data for Zambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.74 % 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 3.49 % 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 Zambia?
- Deforestation embedded in trade in Zambia was 242.33 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 242.33 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -14,343 hectares in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for deforestation embedded in trade?
- Zambia ranks 117th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is deforestation embedded in trade rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 103.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia 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.