Drivers of deforestation in Laos
Laos: Drivers of deforestation was 18,937 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Laos, 2009–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for drivers of deforestation in Laos is 18,937 hectares, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 1,745.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Laos peaked at 18,937 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 29.6 hectares, in 2009.
That places Laos 17th out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Laos, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 29.6 hectares | — |
| 2010 | 323.4 hectares | +992.6% |
| 2011 | 631.23 hectares | +95.2% |
| 2012 | 633.03 hectares | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 1,026 hectares | +62.1% |
| 2014 | 5,645 hectares | +450.1% |
| 2015 | 5,508 hectares | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 10,068 hectares | +82.8% |
| 2017 | 13,739 hectares | +36.5% |
| 2018 | 14,731 hectares | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 14,601 hectares | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 14,490 hectares | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 12,560 hectares | -13.3% |
| 2022 | 18,872 hectares | +50.3% |
| 2023 | 18,937 hectares | +0.3% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 18,937 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 225.28 hectares, 84.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Laos's 18,937 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,457 hectares, 4.2× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Laos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +992.6% | 29.6 hectares | 323.4 hectares |
| 2014 | +450.1% | 1,026 hectares | 5,645 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.6 hectares | 29.6 hectares | 29.6 hectares | 1 |
| 2010s | 6,691 hectares | 323.4 hectares | 14,731 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,215 hectares | 12,560 hectares | 18,937 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % 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 0.4183 % 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 % 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 Laos?
- Drivers of deforestation in Laos was 18,937 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 18,937 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.6 hectares in 2009.
- How does Laos rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Laos ranks 17th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,745.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.