Drivers of deforestation in Congo
Congo: Drivers of deforestation was 4,496 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in 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 Congo is 4,496 hectares, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 36.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Congo peaked at 6,810 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 497.96 hectares, in 2008.
Congo ranks 34th of 166 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,755 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 1,191 hectares | -32.1% |
| 2003 | 908.97 hectares | -23.7% |
| 2004 | 621.84 hectares | -31.6% |
| 2005 | 771.55 hectares | +24.1% |
| 2006 | 765.96 hectares | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 852.58 hectares | +11.3% |
| 2008 | 497.96 hectares | -41.6% |
| 2009 | 559.21 hectares | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 976.72 hectares | +74.7% |
| 2011 | 911.11 hectares | -6.7% |
| 2012 | 1,544 hectares | +69.5% |
| 2013 | 3,287 hectares | +112.9% |
| 2014 | 3,398 hectares | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 1,300 hectares | -61.7% |
| 2016 | 2,028 hectares | +56.0% |
| 2017 | 2,588 hectares | +27.7% |
| 2018 | 1,716 hectares | -33.7% |
| 2019 | 3,231 hectares | +88.3% |
| 2020 | 2,906 hectares | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 6,810 hectares | +134.3% |
| 2022 | 4,494 hectares | -34.0% |
| 2023 | 4,496 hectares | +0.0% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 4,496 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 225.28 hectares, 20.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Congo's 4,496 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 751.37 hectares, 6.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 880.47 hectares | 497.96 hectares | 1,755 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 2,098 hectares | 911.11 hectares | 3,398 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,677 hectares | 2,906 hectares | 6,810 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More environment data for Congo
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -9.96 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.68 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.202 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.13 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8453 % 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 -0.4756 % 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 Congo?
- Drivers of deforestation in Congo was 4,496 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 6,810 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 497.96 hectares in 2008.
- How does Congo rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Congo ranks 34th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this 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.