Drivers of deforestation in Canada
Canada: Drivers of deforestation was 3,237 hectares in 2023. ▼ Falling
Drivers of deforestation in Canada, 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 Canada is 3,237 hectares, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 39.2% on the previous year and up 34.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Canada peaked at 14,321 hectares in 2004 and was at its lowest, 2,409 hectares, in 2016.
That places Canada 37th out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Drivers of deforestation in Canada, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 11,735 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 14,235 hectares | +21.3% |
| 2003 | 7,372 hectares | -48.2% |
| 2004 | 14,321 hectares | +94.3% |
| 2006 | 14,186 hectares | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 10,036 hectares | -29.3% |
| 2008 | 10,148 hectares | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 2,409 hectares | -76.3% |
| 2017 | 6,690 hectares | +177.7% |
| 2018 | 7,177 hectares | +7.3% |
| 2019 | 7,784 hectares | +8.5% |
| 2020 | 7,274 hectares | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 7,688 hectares | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 5,326 hectares | -30.7% |
| 2023 | 3,237 hectares | -39.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 3,237 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.88 hectares, 46.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11,719 hectares | 7,372 hectares | 14,321 hectares | 7 |
| 2010s | 6,015 hectares | 2,409 hectares | 7,784 hectares | 4 |
| 2020s | 5,881 hectares | 3,237 hectares | 7,688 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 34 Congo 4,496 hectares compare
- 35 Australia 4,457 hectares compare
- 36 Ethiopia 3,549 hectares compare
- 38 Central African Republic 3,096 hectares compare
- 39 South Africa 3,036 hectares compare
- 40 Cote d'Ivoire 2,974 hectares compare
More environment data for Canada
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.642 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.96 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.7 % 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 -0.3398 % 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 Canada?
- Drivers of deforestation in Canada was 3,237 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 14,321 hectares in 2004.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,409 hectares in 2016.
- How does Canada rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Canada ranks 37th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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 — 15 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.