Drivers of deforestation in Pakistan
Pakistan: Drivers of deforestation was 5.36 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Pakistan, 2001–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Pakistan recorded 5.36 hectares for drivers of deforestation in 2023.
The figure is up 248.1% on the previous year and up 197.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Pakistan peaked at 101 hectares in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.06 hectares, in 2017.
That places Pakistan 121st out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 23.15 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 37.68 hectares | +62.8% |
| 2003 | 71.93 hectares | +90.9% |
| 2004 | 53.04 hectares | -26.3% |
| 2005 | 47.72 hectares | -10.0% |
| 2006 | 101 hectares | +111.7% |
| 2007 | 61.46 hectares | -39.1% |
| 2008 | 5.35 hectares | -91.3% |
| 2009 | 2.67 hectares | -50.1% |
| 2010 | 1.85 hectares | -30.7% |
| 2011 | 2.76 hectares | +49.2% |
| 2012 | 5.59 hectares | +102.5% |
| 2013 | 1.8 hectares | -67.8% |
| 2014 | 0.93 hectares | -48.3% |
| 2015 | 0.07 hectares | -92.5% |
| 2017 | 0.06 hectares | -14.3% |
| 2018 | 10.74 hectares | +17800.0% |
| 2019 | 11.69 hectares | +8.8% |
| 2020 | 13.86 hectares | +18.6% |
| 2021 | 4.12 hectares | -70.3% |
| 2022 | 1.54 hectares | -62.6% |
| 2023 | 5.36 hectares | +248.1% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 5.36 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 225.28 hectares, 2% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 5.36 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 0.57 hectares, 9.4× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Pakistan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +17800.0% | 0.06 hectares | 10.74 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.89 hectares | 2.67 hectares | 101 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.94 hectares | 0.06 hectares | 11.69 hectares | 9 |
| 2020s | 6.22 hectares | 1.54 hectares | 13.86 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More environment data for Pakistan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -10.53 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.373 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.58 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.7034 % 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 3.1 % 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 Pakistan?
- Drivers of deforestation in Pakistan was 5.36 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 101 hectares in 2006.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.06 hectares in 2017.
- How does Pakistan rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Pakistan ranks 121st out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 197.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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 — 22 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.