Drivers of deforestation in Zambia
Zambia: Drivers of deforestation was 14,602 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Zambia, 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 Zambia is 14,602 hectares, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 18.6% on the previous year and up 607.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Zambia peaked at 17,928 hectares in 2022 and was at its lowest, 685.74 hectares, in 2015.
That places Zambia 20th out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Zambia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5,938 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 2,415 hectares | -59.3% |
| 2003 | 2,247 hectares | -6.9% |
| 2004 | 2,036 hectares | -9.4% |
| 2005 | 1,261 hectares | -38.0% |
| 2006 | 715.34 hectares | -43.3% |
| 2007 | 1,006 hectares | +40.7% |
| 2008 | 728.21 hectares | -27.6% |
| 2009 | 1,945 hectares | +167.1% |
| 2010 | 1,147 hectares | -41.0% |
| 2011 | 1,092 hectares | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 3,220 hectares | +194.7% |
| 2013 | 2,065 hectares | -35.9% |
| 2014 | 935.93 hectares | -54.7% |
| 2015 | 685.74 hectares | -26.7% |
| 2016 | 1,833 hectares | +167.3% |
| 2017 | 10,346 hectares | +464.4% |
| 2018 | 10,989 hectares | +6.2% |
| 2019 | 11,733 hectares | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 13,339 hectares | +13.7% |
| 2021 | 12,540 hectares | -6.0% |
| 2022 | 17,928 hectares | +43.0% |
| 2023 | 14,602 hectares | -18.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 14,602 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 225.28 hectares, 64.8× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 14,602 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 751.37 hectares, 19.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Zambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +464.4% | 1,833 hectares | 10,346 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,032 hectares | 715.34 hectares | 5,938 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 4,405 hectares | 685.74 hectares | 11,733 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,602 hectares | 12,540 hectares | 17,928 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More environment data for Zambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.74 % 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 3.49 % 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 Zambia?
- Drivers of deforestation in Zambia was 14,602 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 17,928 hectares in 2022.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 685.74 hectares in 2015.
- How does Zambia rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Zambia ranks 20th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 607.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia 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.