Exported deforestation in Congo
Congo: Exported deforestation was 1,407 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Exported deforestation in Congo, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, exported deforestation in Congo stood at 1,407 hectares.
The figure is down 45.2% on the previous year and up 34.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exported deforestation in Congo peaked at 4,121 hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 273.32 hectares, in 2007.
Congo ranks 48th of 178 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.
Exported deforestation in Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 507.19 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 381.48 hectares | -24.8% |
| 2007 | 273.32 hectares | -28.4% |
| 2008 | 470.57 hectares | +72.2% |
| 2009 | 565.5 hectares | +20.2% |
| 2010 | 909.22 hectares | +60.8% |
| 2011 | 1,167 hectares | +28.4% |
| 2012 | 983.83 hectares | -15.7% |
| 2013 | 1,046 hectares | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 919.49 hectares | -12.1% |
| 2015 | 917.68 hectares | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 1,907 hectares | +107.8% |
| 2017 | 3,053 hectares | +60.1% |
| 2018 | 4,099 hectares | +34.3% |
| 2019 | 3,931 hectares | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 4,121 hectares | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 2,898 hectares | -29.7% |
| 2022 | 2,568 hectares | -11.4% |
| 2023 | 1,407 hectares | -45.2% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 1,407 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 183.42 hectares, 7.7× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Congo's 1,407 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 578.35 hectares, 2.4× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 439.61 hectares | 273.32 hectares | 565.5 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 1,893 hectares | 909.22 hectares | 4,099 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,749 hectares | 1,407 hectares | 4,121 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More environment data for Congo
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -9.96 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.68 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.202 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.13 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8453 % 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 -0.4756 % 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 exported deforestation in Congo?
- Exported deforestation in Congo was 1,407 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exported deforestation recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 4,121 hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest exported deforestation recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 273.32 hectares in 2007.
- How does Congo rank for exported deforestation?
- Congo ranks 48th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exported deforestation rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 34.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Exported deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Exported deforestation is the amount of annual deforestation that is driven by the production of food and forestry products that are exported for consumption in other countries. This is measured in hectares.