Drivers of deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Drivers of deforestation was 44,747 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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 Democratic Republic of Congo is 44,747 hectares, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.4% on the previous year and up 230.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 75,252 hectares in 2004 and was at its lowest, 4,614 hectares, in 2011.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 6th of 166 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 49,581 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 48,254 hectares | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 61,422 hectares | +27.3% |
| 2004 | 75,252 hectares | +22.5% |
| 2005 | 65,872 hectares | -12.5% |
| 2006 | 49,579 hectares | -24.7% |
| 2007 | 14,395 hectares | -71.0% |
| 2008 | 7,728 hectares | -46.3% |
| 2009 | 8,426 hectares | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 10,096 hectares | +19.8% |
| 2011 | 4,614 hectares | -54.3% |
| 2012 | 14,672 hectares | +218.0% |
| 2013 | 13,532 hectares | -7.8% |
| 2014 | 32,007 hectares | +136.5% |
| 2015 | 32,437 hectares | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 51,388 hectares | +58.4% |
| 2017 | 56,743 hectares | +10.4% |
| 2018 | 58,521 hectares | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 50,523 hectares | -13.7% |
| 2020 | 40,338 hectares | -20.2% |
| 2021 | 42,815 hectares | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 51,090 hectares | +19.3% |
| 2023 | 44,747 hectares | -12.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 44,747 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 550.07 hectares, 81.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 44,747 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 751.37 hectares, 59.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +218.0% | 4,614 hectares | 14,672 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 42,279 hectares | 7,728 hectares | 75,252 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 32,453 hectares | 4,614 hectares | 58,521 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 44,747 hectares | 40,338 hectares | 51,090 hectares | 4 |
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 drivers of deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Drivers of deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo was 44,747 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 75,252 hectares in 2004.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,614 hectares in 2011.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 6th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 230.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.