Exported deforestation in Laos
Laos: Exported deforestation was 5,851 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Exported deforestation in Laos, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Laos recorded 5,851 hectares for exported deforestation in 2023.
That represents a change of up 27.9% on the previous year and up 83.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exported deforestation in Laos peaked at 10,892 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,970 hectares, in 2005.
Laos ranks 31st of 178 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Exported deforestation in Laos, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,970 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 3,626 hectares | +84.0% |
| 2007 | 3,209 hectares | -11.5% |
| 2008 | 2,784 hectares | -13.2% |
| 2009 | 2,424 hectares | -13.0% |
| 2010 | 2,808 hectares | +15.9% |
| 2011 | 2,915 hectares | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 2,593 hectares | -11.0% |
| 2013 | 3,197 hectares | +23.3% |
| 2014 | 2,986 hectares | -6.6% |
| 2015 | 3,064 hectares | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 3,944 hectares | +28.7% |
| 2017 | 4,059 hectares | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 4,315 hectares | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 5,659 hectares | +31.2% |
| 2020 | 8,113 hectares | +43.4% |
| 2021 | 10,892 hectares | +34.3% |
| 2022 | 4,573 hectares | -58.0% |
| 2023 | 5,851 hectares | +27.9% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 5,851 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 183.42 hectares, 31.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Laos's 5,851 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,873 hectares, 3.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,803 hectares | 1,970 hectares | 3,626 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 3,554 hectares | 2,593 hectares | 5,659 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,357 hectares | 4,573 hectares | 10,892 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 28 Nicaragua 7,023 hectares compare
- 29 Madagascar 6,648 hectares compare
- 30 Mozambique 6,151 hectares compare
- 32 Honduras 5,014 hectares compare
- 33 Papua New Guinea 4,305 hectares compare
- 34 Liberia 4,079 hectares compare
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % 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 0.4183 % 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 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is exported deforestation in Laos?
- Exported deforestation in Laos was 5,851 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exported deforestation recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 10,892 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest exported deforestation recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,970 hectares in 2005.
- How does Laos rank for exported deforestation?
- Laos ranks 31st out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exported deforestation rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.