Drivers of deforestation in Bhutan
Bhutan: Drivers of deforestation was 12.53 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Bhutan, 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 Bhutan is 12.53 hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 52.5% on the previous year and down 74.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Bhutan peaked at 309.93 hectares in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.13 hectares, in 2018.
That places Bhutan 113th out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Bhutan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 57.19 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 20.95 hectares | -63.4% |
| 2003 | 65.51 hectares | +212.7% |
| 2004 | 143.74 hectares | +119.4% |
| 2005 | 108.16 hectares | -24.8% |
| 2006 | 79.77 hectares | -26.2% |
| 2007 | 68.52 hectares | -14.1% |
| 2008 | 79.52 hectares | +16.1% |
| 2009 | 111.36 hectares | +40.0% |
| 2010 | 309.93 hectares | +178.3% |
| 2011 | 127.88 hectares | -58.7% |
| 2012 | 108.01 hectares | -15.5% |
| 2013 | 48.87 hectares | -54.8% |
| 2014 | 111.32 hectares | +127.8% |
| 2015 | 50.25 hectares | -54.9% |
| 2016 | 99.76 hectares | +98.5% |
| 2017 | 16.44 hectares | -83.5% |
| 2018 | 1.13 hectares | -93.1% |
| 2020 | 8.97 hectares | +693.8% |
| 2021 | 15 hectares | +67.2% |
| 2022 | 26.4 hectares | +76.0% |
| 2023 | 12.53 hectares | -52.5% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 12.53 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 225.28 hectares, 6% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 12.53 hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 55.79 hectares, 22% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Bhutan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +693.8% | 1.13 hectares | 8.97 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 81.64 hectares | 20.95 hectares | 143.74 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 97.07 hectares | 1.13 hectares | 309.93 hectares | 9 |
| 2020s | 15.72 hectares | 8.97 hectares | 26.4 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More environment data for Bhutan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.2782 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 0.5977 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.257 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.08 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.487 % 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 -5.53 % 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 Bhutan?
- Drivers of deforestation in Bhutan was 12.53 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 309.93 hectares in 2010.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.13 hectares in 2018.
- How does Bhutan rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Bhutan ranks 113th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 74.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan 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 — 22 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.