Drivers of deforestation in Peru
Peru: Drivers of deforestation was 49,590 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Peru, 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 Peru is 49,590 hectares, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 41.9% on the previous year and up 782.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Peru peaked at 87,826 hectares in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3,630 hectares, in 2011.
That places Peru 3rd 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 Peru, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 27,678 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 31,668 hectares | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 31,588 hectares | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 42,364 hectares | +34.1% |
| 2005 | 65,505 hectares | +54.6% |
| 2006 | 37,017 hectares | -43.5% |
| 2007 | 52,317 hectares | +41.3% |
| 2008 | 58,230 hectares | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 87,826 hectares | +50.8% |
| 2010 | 38,419 hectares | -56.3% |
| 2011 | 3,630 hectares | -90.6% |
| 2012 | 8,736 hectares | +140.7% |
| 2013 | 5,620 hectares | -35.7% |
| 2014 | 10,077 hectares | +79.3% |
| 2015 | 5,630 hectares | -44.1% |
| 2016 | 6,162 hectares | +9.4% |
| 2017 | 9,047 hectares | +46.8% |
| 2018 | 36,789 hectares | +306.6% |
| 2019 | 37,844 hectares | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 83,202 hectares | +119.9% |
| 2021 | 3,699 hectares | -95.6% |
| 2022 | 85,319 hectares | +2206.3% |
| 2023 | 49,590 hectares | -41.9% |
Peru compared with similar countries
- Peru's 49,590 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.69 hectares, 663.9× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Peru's 49,590 hectares is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 220.38 hectares, 225.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Peru 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +2206.3% | 3,699 hectares | 85,319 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 48,244 hectares | 27,678 hectares | 87,826 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 16,196 hectares | 3,630 hectares | 38,419 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 55,453 hectares | 3,699 hectares | 85,319 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Peru
More environment data for Peru
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.4511 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.13 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.295 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.18 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 4.59 % 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 0.1844 % 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 Peru?
- Drivers of deforestation in Peru was 49,590 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Peru?
- The highest recorded value was 87,826 hectares in 2009.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Peru?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,630 hectares in 2011.
- How does Peru rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Peru ranks 3rd out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Peru?
- Over the last ten years it is up 782.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Peru 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.