Drivers of deforestation in Iran
Iran: Drivers of deforestation was 1.16 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Iran, 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 Iran is 1.16 hectares, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 63.4% on the previous year and down 91.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Iran peaked at 122.01 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.01 hectares, in 2016.
Iran ranks 139th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Iran, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 18.93 hectares | — |
| 2005 | 30 hectares | +58.5% |
| 2006 | 23.63 hectares | -21.2% |
| 2007 | 24.14 hectares | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 45.99 hectares | +90.5% |
| 2009 | 33.87 hectares | -26.4% |
| 2010 | 35.42 hectares | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 52.44 hectares | +48.1% |
| 2012 | 122.01 hectares | +132.7% |
| 2013 | 13.69 hectares | -88.8% |
| 2014 | 1.54 hectares | -88.8% |
| 2016 | 0.01 hectares | -99.4% |
| 2017 | 0.57 hectares | +5600.0% |
| 2018 | 0.41 hectares | -28.1% |
| 2019 | 2.45 hectares | +497.6% |
| 2020 | 0.85 hectares | -65.3% |
| 2021 | 0.21 hectares | -75.3% |
| 2022 | 0.71 hectares | +238.1% |
| 2023 | 1.16 hectares | +63.4% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.16 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.69 hectares, 2% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.16 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.57 hectares, 2.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Iran 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +5600.0% | 0.01 hectares | 0.57 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.43 hectares | 18.93 hectares | 45.99 hectares | 6 |
| 2010s | 25.39 hectares | 0.01 hectares | 122.01 hectares | 9 |
| 2020s | 0.7325 hectares | 0.21 hectares | 1.16 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More environment data for Iran
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -30.46 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -21.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.4 % 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 1.9 % 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 -0.0807 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drivers of deforestation in Iran?
- Drivers of deforestation in Iran was 1.16 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 122.01 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.01 hectares in 2016.
- How does Iran rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Iran ranks 139th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 91.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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 — 19 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.