Drivers of deforestation in Japan
Japan: Drivers of deforestation was 276.54 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Japan, 2004–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Japan recorded 276.54 hectares for drivers of deforestation in 2023.
That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and up 367.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Japan peaked at 527.12 hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 1.68 hectares, in 2004.
Japan ranks 65th of 166 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Japan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1.68 hectares | — |
| 2005 | 55.97 hectares | +3231.5% |
| 2006 | 58.57 hectares | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 80.45 hectares | +37.4% |
| 2008 | 104.99 hectares | +30.5% |
| 2009 | 120.46 hectares | +14.7% |
| 2010 | 133.91 hectares | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 130.36 hectares | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 238.76 hectares | +83.2% |
| 2013 | 59.18 hectares | -75.2% |
| 2014 | 12.67 hectares | -78.6% |
| 2020 | 527.12 hectares | +4060.4% |
| 2021 | 267.25 hectares | -49.3% |
| 2022 | 255.37 hectares | -4.4% |
| 2023 | 276.54 hectares | +8.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 276.54 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.88 hectares, 4.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Japan's 276.54 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,457 hectares, 6% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4060.4% | 12.67 hectares | 527.12 hectares |
| 2005 | +3231.5% | 1.68 hectares | 55.97 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 70.35 hectares | 1.68 hectares | 120.46 hectares | 6 |
| 2010s | 114.98 hectares | 12.67 hectares | 238.76 hectares | 5 |
| 2020s | 331.57 hectares | 255.37 hectares | 527.12 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More environment data for Japan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.8 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.358 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.86 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -2.8 % 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 -0.4957 % 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 Japan?
- Drivers of deforestation in Japan was 276.54 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 527.12 hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.68 hectares in 2004.
- How does Japan rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Japan ranks 65th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 367.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 15 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.