Drivers of deforestation in Ecuador
Ecuador: Drivers of deforestation was 4,810 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Ecuador, 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 Ecuador is 4,810 hectares, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 41,435.1% on the previous year and up 32,245.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Ecuador peaked at 14,728 hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4 hectares, in 2021.
That places Ecuador 31st out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Ecuador, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 9,796 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 13,821 hectares | +41.1% |
| 2003 | 6,130 hectares | -55.6% |
| 2004 | 4,961 hectares | -19.1% |
| 2005 | 40.62 hectares | -99.2% |
| 2006 | 1,989 hectares | +4795.8% |
| 2007 | 38.54 hectares | -98.1% |
| 2008 | 8.93 hectares | -76.8% |
| 2009 | 7,718 hectares | +86333.3% |
| 2010 | 37.22 hectares | -99.5% |
| 2011 | 25.38 hectares | -31.8% |
| 2012 | 44.84 hectares | +76.7% |
| 2013 | 14.87 hectares | -66.8% |
| 2014 | 7,310 hectares | +49060.2% |
| 2015 | 16.69 hectares | -99.8% |
| 2016 | 33.15 hectares | +98.6% |
| 2017 | 29.77 hectares | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 8.89 hectares | -70.1% |
| 2019 | 11,216 hectares | +126069.9% |
| 2020 | 14,728 hectares | +31.3% |
| 2021 | 4 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2022 | 11.58 hectares | +189.5% |
| 2023 | 4,810 hectares | +41435.1% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 4,810 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.69 hectares, 64.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 4,810 hectares is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 220.38 hectares, 21.8× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Ecuador 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +126069.9% | 8.89 hectares | 11,216 hectares |
| 2009 | +86333.3% | 8.93 hectares | 7,718 hectares |
| 2014 | +49060.2% | 14.87 hectares | 7,310 hectares |
| 2023 | +41435.1% | 11.58 hectares | 4,810 hectares |
| 2006 | +4795.8% | 40.62 hectares | 1,989 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,945 hectares | 8.93 hectares | 13,821 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 1,874 hectares | 8.89 hectares | 11,216 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,888 hectares | 4 hectares | 14,728 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More environment data for Ecuador
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.3767 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.4 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.49 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.65 % 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 -1.14 % 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 Ecuador?
- Drivers of deforestation in Ecuador was 4,810 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 14,728 hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 hectares in 2021.
- How does Ecuador rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Ecuador ranks 31st out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32,245.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ecuador 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.