Drivers of deforestation in Belize
Belize: Drivers of deforestation was 335.35 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Belize, 2001–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for drivers of deforestation in Belize is 335.35 hectares, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 202.8% on the previous year and up 5,964.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Belize peaked at 564.61 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.51 hectares, in 2016.
Belize ranks 62nd of 166 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Belize, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 199.54 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 309.18 hectares | +54.9% |
| 2003 | 267.74 hectares | -13.4% |
| 2004 | 230.85 hectares | -13.8% |
| 2005 | 292.75 hectares | +26.8% |
| 2006 | 135.73 hectares | -53.6% |
| 2007 | 101.78 hectares | -25.0% |
| 2008 | 55.44 hectares | -45.5% |
| 2009 | 21.24 hectares | -61.7% |
| 2010 | 41.62 hectares | +96.0% |
| 2011 | 5.53 hectares | -86.7% |
| 2015 | 38.23 hectares | +591.3% |
| 2016 | 0.51 hectares | -98.7% |
| 2019 | 41.42 hectares | +8021.6% |
| 2020 | 262.44 hectares | +533.6% |
| 2021 | 564.61 hectares | +115.1% |
| 2022 | 110.74 hectares | -80.4% |
| 2023 | 335.35 hectares | +202.8% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 335.35 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.69 hectares, 4.5× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Belize's 335.35 hectares is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 220.38 hectares, 1.5× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Belize 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +8021.6% | 0.51 hectares | 41.42 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 179.36 hectares | 21.24 hectares | 309.18 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 25.46 hectares | 0.51 hectares | 41.62 hectares | 5 |
| 2020s | 318.29 hectares | 110.74 hectares | 564.61 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More environment data for Belize
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.66 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.87 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.287 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.35 % 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 0.0489 % 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 drivers of deforestation in Belize?
- Drivers of deforestation in Belize was 335.35 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 564.61 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.51 hectares in 2016.
- How does Belize rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Belize ranks 62nd out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5,964.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belize data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Drivers of deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimates of commodity-driven deforestation, measured in hectares per year. This includes deforestation caused by the production of agricultural products and forestry, which account for approximately 90% of the world's deforestation.