Drivers of deforestation in Russia
Russia: Drivers of deforestation was 1,051 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Russia, 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 Russia is 1,051 hectares, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.
The figure is down 54.2% on the previous year and down 90.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Russia peaked at 16,444 hectares in 2004 and was at its lowest, 1,051 hectares, in 2023.
Russia ranks 50th 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 Russia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 16,271 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 12,985 hectares | -20.2% |
| 2003 | 6,694 hectares | -48.4% |
| 2004 | 16,444 hectares | +145.7% |
| 2005 | 8,717 hectares | -47.0% |
| 2006 | 7,854 hectares | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 7,717 hectares | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 8,205 hectares | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 9,383 hectares | +14.4% |
| 2010 | 10,384 hectares | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 9,272 hectares | -10.7% |
| 2012 | 16,124 hectares | +73.9% |
| 2013 | 11,283 hectares | -30.0% |
| 2014 | 8,198 hectares | -27.3% |
| 2015 | 4,885 hectares | -40.4% |
| 2016 | 5,089 hectares | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 5,270 hectares | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 3,156 hectares | -40.1% |
| 2019 | 2,942 hectares | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 3,732 hectares | +26.8% |
| 2021 | 2,638 hectares | -29.3% |
| 2022 | 2,293 hectares | -13.1% |
| 2023 | 1,051 hectares | -54.2% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 1,051 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.88 hectares, 15.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Russia's 1,051 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 59.76 hectares, 17.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10,474 hectares | 6,694 hectares | 16,444 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 7,660 hectares | 2,942 hectares | 16,124 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,429 hectares | 1,051 hectares | 3,732 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More environment data for Russia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.76 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.5 % 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 -1.96 % 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 0.5219 % 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 Russia?
- Drivers of deforestation in Russia was 1,051 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 16,444 hectares in 2004.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,051 hectares in 2023.
- How does Russia rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Russia ranks 50th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 90.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia 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.