Drivers of deforestation in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: Drivers of deforestation was 3,549 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Ethiopia, 2001–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 3,549 hectares for drivers of deforestation in 2023.
The figure is up 196.6% on the previous year and up 1,470.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Ethiopia peaked at 3,627 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 62.09 hectares, in 2003.
That places Ethiopia 36th 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 Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 76.84 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 72.49 hectares | -5.7% |
| 2003 | 62.09 hectares | -14.3% |
| 2004 | 80.92 hectares | +30.3% |
| 2005 | 191.28 hectares | +136.4% |
| 2006 | 234.18 hectares | +22.4% |
| 2007 | 417.73 hectares | +78.4% |
| 2008 | 181 hectares | -56.7% |
| 2009 | 235.83 hectares | +30.3% |
| 2010 | 161.39 hectares | -31.6% |
| 2011 | 120.94 hectares | -25.1% |
| 2012 | 245.46 hectares | +103.0% |
| 2013 | 226.03 hectares | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 410.32 hectares | +81.5% |
| 2015 | 83.58 hectares | -79.6% |
| 2016 | 308.54 hectares | +269.2% |
| 2017 | 519.65 hectares | +68.4% |
| 2018 | 240.13 hectares | -53.8% |
| 2019 | 682.04 hectares | +184.0% |
| 2020 | 891.4 hectares | +30.7% |
| 2021 | 3,627 hectares | +306.9% |
| 2022 | 1,196 hectares | -67.0% |
| 2023 | 3,549 hectares | +196.6% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 3,549 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 550.07 hectares, 6.5× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 3,549 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 751.37 hectares, 4.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 172.48 hectares | 62.09 hectares | 417.73 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 299.81 hectares | 83.58 hectares | 682.04 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,316 hectares | 891.4 hectares | 3,627 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 33 Papua New Guinea 4,645 hectares compare
- 34 Congo 4,496 hectares compare
- 35 Australia 4,457 hectares compare
- 37 Canada 3,237 hectares compare
- 38 Central African Republic 3,096 hectares compare
- 39 South Africa 3,036 hectares compare
More environment data for Ethiopia
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.272 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.39 °C (2025)
- 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 2.83 % 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 0.1478 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drivers of deforestation in Ethiopia?
- Drivers of deforestation in Ethiopia was 3,549 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 3,627 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.09 hectares in 2003.
- How does Ethiopia rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Ethiopia ranks 36th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,470.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia 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.