Drivers of deforestation in Tanzania
Tanzania: Drivers of deforestation was 11,494 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Tanzania, 2001–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, drivers of deforestation in Tanzania stood at 11,494 hectares. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 34.6% on the previous year and up 1,504.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Tanzania peaked at 11,494 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 584.56 hectares, in 2004.
Tanzania ranks 22nd of 166 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,315 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 964.19 hectares | -26.7% |
| 2003 | 1,048 hectares | +8.7% |
| 2004 | 584.56 hectares | -44.2% |
| 2005 | 656.28 hectares | +12.3% |
| 2006 | 894.86 hectares | +36.4% |
| 2007 | 1,859 hectares | +107.7% |
| 2008 | 2,764 hectares | +48.7% |
| 2010 | 1,437 hectares | -48.0% |
| 2011 | 920.14 hectares | -36.0% |
| 2012 | 4,622 hectares | +402.4% |
| 2013 | 716.53 hectares | -84.5% |
| 2014 | 958.07 hectares | +33.7% |
| 2015 | 640.67 hectares | -33.1% |
| 2016 | 1,071 hectares | +67.2% |
| 2017 | 1,673 hectares | +56.1% |
| 2018 | 2,366 hectares | +41.5% |
| 2019 | 2,351 hectares | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 7,507 hectares | +219.2% |
| 2021 | 6,731 hectares | -10.3% |
| 2022 | 8,538 hectares | +26.9% |
| 2023 | 11,494 hectares | +34.6% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 11,494 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 225.28 hectares, 51.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 11,494 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 751.37 hectares, 15.3× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Tanzania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +402.4% | 920.14 hectares | 4,622 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,261 hectares | 584.56 hectares | 2,764 hectares | 8 |
| 2010s | 1,676 hectares | 640.67 hectares | 4,622 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,567 hectares | 6,731 hectares | 11,494 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More environment data for Tanzania
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 3.06 % 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 5.16 % 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 % 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 Tanzania?
- Drivers of deforestation in Tanzania was 11,494 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 11,494 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 584.56 hectares in 2004.
- How does Tanzania rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Tanzania ranks 22nd out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,504.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.