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.
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
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 38.52 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 1.81 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 6.39 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 2.21 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 8.56 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 0.0539 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 18.28 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 0.0026 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 0.0155 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 1.04 Mt CO2e (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.