Drivers of deforestation in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Drivers of deforestation was 58.41 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka is 58.41 hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 140.2% on the previous year and down 96.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Sri Lanka peaked at 2,949 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 24.32 hectares, in 2022.
Sri Lanka ranks 94th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,005 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 100.46 hectares | -95.0% |
| 2003 | 278.53 hectares | +177.3% |
| 2004 | 196.97 hectares | -29.3% |
| 2005 | 166.77 hectares | -15.3% |
| 2006 | 144.27 hectares | -13.5% |
| 2007 | 130.67 hectares | -9.4% |
| 2008 | 91.42 hectares | -30.0% |
| 2009 | 196.24 hectares | +114.7% |
| 2010 | 144.41 hectares | -26.4% |
| 2011 | 1,943 hectares | +1245.7% |
| 2012 | 2,949 hectares | +51.7% |
| 2013 | 1,487 hectares | -49.6% |
| 2014 | 683.07 hectares | -54.1% |
| 2015 | 142.88 hectares | -79.1% |
| 2016 | 404.07 hectares | +182.8% |
| 2017 | 637.81 hectares | +57.8% |
| 2018 | 1,681 hectares | +163.5% |
| 2019 | 1,534 hectares | -8.7% |
| 2020 | 102.22 hectares | -93.3% |
| 2021 | 77.74 hectares | -23.9% |
| 2022 | 24.32 hectares | -68.7% |
| 2023 | 58.41 hectares | +140.2% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 58.41 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.69 hectares, 78% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 58.41 hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 55.79 hectares, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +1245.7% | 144.41 hectares | 1,943 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 367.86 hectares | 91.42 hectares | 2,005 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 1,161 hectares | 142.88 hectares | 2,949 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.67 hectares | 24.32 hectares | 102.22 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More environment data for Sri Lanka
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 5.24 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 5.49 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.207 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.849 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 5.63 % 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 1.22 % 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 Sri Lanka?
- Drivers of deforestation in Sri Lanka was 58.41 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 2,949 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.32 hectares in 2022.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Sri Lanka ranks 94th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 96.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.