Drivers of deforestation in China
China: Drivers of deforestation was 26,740 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in China, 2001–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
China recorded 26,740 hectares for drivers of deforestation in 2023.
The figure is up 18.6% on the previous year and down 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in China peaked at 63,331 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 8,307 hectares, in 2001.
That places China 11th out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in China, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8,307 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 10,037 hectares | +20.8% |
| 2003 | 8,565 hectares | -14.7% |
| 2004 | 12,589 hectares | +47.0% |
| 2005 | 9,122 hectares | -27.5% |
| 2006 | 13,874 hectares | +52.1% |
| 2007 | 25,881 hectares | +86.5% |
| 2008 | 33,701 hectares | +30.2% |
| 2009 | 58,578 hectares | +73.8% |
| 2010 | 56,876 hectares | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 50,496 hectares | -11.2% |
| 2012 | 63,331 hectares | +25.4% |
| 2013 | 36,898 hectares | -41.7% |
| 2014 | 48,423 hectares | +31.2% |
| 2015 | 44,511 hectares | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 59,192 hectares | +33.0% |
| 2017 | 49,285 hectares | -16.7% |
| 2018 | 40,239 hectares | -18.4% |
| 2019 | 26,601 hectares | -33.9% |
| 2020 | 20,726 hectares | -22.1% |
| 2021 | 19,225 hectares | -7.2% |
| 2022 | 22,547 hectares | +17.3% |
| 2023 | 26,740 hectares | +18.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 26,740 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.69 hectares, 358.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- China's 26,740 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,457 hectares, 6.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20,073 hectares | 8,307 hectares | 58,578 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 47,585 hectares | 26,601 hectares | 63,331 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,309 hectares | 19,225 hectares | 26,740 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % 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 0.9037 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drivers of deforestation in China?
- Drivers of deforestation in China was 26,740 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 63,331 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,307 hectares in 2001.
- How does China rank for drivers of deforestation?
- China ranks 11th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 — 23 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.