Exported deforestation in North Korea
North Korea: Exported deforestation was 384.2 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Exported deforestation in North Korea, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for exported deforestation in North Korea is 384.2 hectares, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.6% on the previous year and up 1,182.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exported deforestation in North Korea peaked at 384.2 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.31 hectares, in 2019.
That places North Korea 66th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 44.21 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 21.54 hectares | -51.3% |
| 2007 | 48.3 hectares | +124.2% |
| 2008 | 53.49 hectares | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 54.95 hectares | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 51.27 hectares | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 30.88 hectares | -39.8% |
| 2012 | 41.3 hectares | +33.7% |
| 2013 | 29.96 hectares | -27.5% |
| 2014 | 58.11 hectares | +94.0% |
| 2015 | 25.95 hectares | -55.3% |
| 2016 | 17.34 hectares | -33.2% |
| 2017 | 4.63 hectares | -73.3% |
| 2018 | 3.75 hectares | -19.0% |
| 2019 | 2.31 hectares | -38.4% |
| 2020 | 3.65 hectares | +58.0% |
| 2021 | 3.57 hectares | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 350.39 hectares | +9714.8% |
| 2023 | 384.2 hectares | +9.6% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 384.2 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 551.19 hectares, 70% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 384.2 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,873 hectares, 21% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Exported deforestation in North Korea 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +9714.8% | 3.57 hectares | 350.39 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.5 hectares | 21.54 hectares | 54.95 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 26.55 hectares | 2.31 hectares | 58.11 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 185.45 hectares | 3.57 hectares | 384.2 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More environment data for North Korea
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) 0.8843 % change on previous year (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Industrial Processes (Mt CO2e) 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e) 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) (Mt) 0.9455 % change on previous year (2024)
- Heating Degree Days 6,917 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 854.46 (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual -0.97 % change on previous year (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 0.7752 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exported deforestation in North Korea?
- Exported deforestation in North Korea was 384.2 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exported deforestation recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 384.2 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest exported deforestation recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.31 hectares in 2019.
- How does North Korea rank for exported deforestation?
- North Korea ranks 66th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exported deforestation rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,182.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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.