Annual deforestation as a share of forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Annual deforestation as a share of forest area was 0.2% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Annual deforestation as a share of forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1990–2020
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual deforestation as a share of forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo is 0.2%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 70.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation as a share of forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 0.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2015.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 38th out of 105 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Annual deforestation as a share of forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.4% | — |
| 2000 | 0.4% | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 0.7% | +55.8% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -70.8% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | +0.8% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 0.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 1.2%, 17% of the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 0.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.6%, 33% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More environment data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.26 % 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 5.2 % 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 % 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) 0.338 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual deforestation as a share of forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Annual deforestation as a share of forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo was 0.2% in 2020, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual deforestation as a share of forest area recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 0.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation as a share of forest area recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2015.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for annual deforestation as a share of forest area?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 38th out of 105 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation as a share of forest area rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 70.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual deforestation as a share of forest area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual deforestation as share of forest area represents the yearly percentage of forest area lost due to deforestation relative to the total forest area.