Exported deforestation in South Korea
South Korea: Exported deforestation was 12.05 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Exported deforestation in South Korea, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, exported deforestation in South Korea stood at 12.05 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
The figure is down 59.6% on the previous year and down 99.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exported deforestation in South Korea peaked at 1,646 hectares in 2012 and was at its lowest, 12.05 hectares, in 2023.
That places South Korea 115th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 622.48 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 719.07 hectares | +15.5% |
| 2007 | 734.82 hectares | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 1,090 hectares | +48.4% |
| 2009 | 1,178 hectares | +8.1% |
| 2010 | 1,319 hectares | +11.9% |
| 2011 | 1,401 hectares | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 1,646 hectares | +17.5% |
| 2013 | 1,507 hectares | -8.5% |
| 2014 | 1,128 hectares | -25.2% |
| 2015 | 744.64 hectares | -34.0% |
| 2016 | 500.64 hectares | -32.8% |
| 2017 | 229.95 hectares | -54.1% |
| 2018 | 80.74 hectares | -64.9% |
| 2019 | 57 hectares | -29.4% |
| 2020 | 51.51 hectares | -9.6% |
| 2021 | 50.7 hectares | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 29.85 hectares | -41.1% |
| 2023 | 12.05 hectares | -59.6% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 12.05 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 40.55 hectares, 30% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 12.05 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,873 hectares, 1% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 869.02 hectares | 622.48 hectares | 1,178 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 861.35 hectares | 57 hectares | 1,646 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.03 hectares | 12.05 hectares | 51.51 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 112 Mauritius 13.52 hectares compare
- 113 Switzerland 12.29 hectares compare
- 114 Bosnia and Herzegovina 12.18 hectares compare
- 116 Puerto Rico 11.96 hectares compare
- 117 North Macedonia 9.44 hectares compare
- 118 Kazakhstan 8.7 hectares compare
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2791 % 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 -2.27 % 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 -0.2415 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exported deforestation in South Korea?
- Exported deforestation in South Korea was 12.05 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exported deforestation recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1,646 hectares in 2012.
- What is the lowest exported deforestation recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.05 hectares in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for exported deforestation?
- South Korea ranks 115th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exported deforestation rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 99.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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.