Drivers of deforestation in Malaysia
Malaysia: Drivers of deforestation was 22,099 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia is 22,099 hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 15.7% on the previous year and up 432.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Malaysia peaked at 26,221 hectares in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2,942 hectares, in 2011.
Malaysia ranks 15th of 166 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 8,200 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 10,757 hectares | +31.2% |
| 2003 | 11,498 hectares | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 16,042 hectares | +39.5% |
| 2005 | 14,856 hectares | -7.4% |
| 2006 | 10,520 hectares | -29.2% |
| 2007 | 8,321 hectares | -20.9% |
| 2008 | 5,875 hectares | -29.4% |
| 2009 | 6,263 hectares | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 3,293 hectares | -47.4% |
| 2011 | 2,942 hectares | -10.7% |
| 2012 | 6,958 hectares | +136.5% |
| 2013 | 4,153 hectares | -40.3% |
| 2014 | 13,491 hectares | +224.8% |
| 2015 | 4,805 hectares | -64.4% |
| 2016 | 7,182 hectares | +49.5% |
| 2017 | 7,328 hectares | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 7,407 hectares | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 11,314 hectares | +52.8% |
| 2020 | 17,155 hectares | +51.6% |
| 2021 | 22,921 hectares | +33.6% |
| 2022 | 26,221 hectares | +14.4% |
| 2023 | 22,099 hectares | -15.7% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 22,099 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.69 hectares, 295.9× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 22,099 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4,457 hectares, 5.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10,259 hectares | 5,875 hectares | 16,042 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 6,887 hectares | 2,942 hectares | 13,491 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,099 hectares | 17,155 hectares | 26,221 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More environment data for Malaysia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.65 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.9 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.179 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.25 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.33 % 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 0.9114 % 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 Malaysia?
- Drivers of deforestation in Malaysia was 22,099 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 26,221 hectares in 2022.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,942 hectares in 2011.
- How does Malaysia rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Malaysia ranks 15th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 432.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.