Imported deforestation in Bhutan
Bhutan: Imported deforestation was 1,430 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Imported deforestation in Bhutan, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, imported deforestation in Bhutan stood at 1,430 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 2,182.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in Bhutan peaked at 1,441 hectares in 2022 and was at its lowest, 51.68 hectares, in 2008.
Bhutan ranks 123rd 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.
Imported deforestation in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 54.48 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 60.68 hectares | +11.4% |
| 2007 | 87.43 hectares | +44.1% |
| 2008 | 51.68 hectares | -40.9% |
| 2009 | 93.43 hectares | +80.8% |
| 2010 | 57.54 hectares | -38.4% |
| 2011 | 70.41 hectares | +22.4% |
| 2012 | 59.61 hectares | -15.3% |
| 2013 | 62.63 hectares | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 119.44 hectares | +90.7% |
| 2015 | 110.69 hectares | -7.3% |
| 2016 | 103.88 hectares | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 122.87 hectares | +18.3% |
| 2018 | 103.88 hectares | -15.5% |
| 2019 | 91.85 hectares | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 69.06 hectares | -24.8% |
| 2021 | 55.85 hectares | -19.1% |
| 2022 | 1,441 hectares | +2479.9% |
| 2023 | 1,430 hectares | -0.8% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 1,430 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2,331 hectares, 61% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 1,430 hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 4,597 hectares, 31% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imported deforestation in Bhutan 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 | +2479.9% | 55.85 hectares | 1,441 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 69.54 hectares | 51.68 hectares | 93.43 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 90.28 hectares | 57.54 hectares | 122.87 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 748.83 hectares | 55.85 hectares | 1,441 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More environment data for Bhutan
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 0.2782 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 0.5977 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.257 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.08 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.487 % 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 -5.53 % 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 imported deforestation in Bhutan?
- Imported deforestation in Bhutan was 1,430 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 1,441 hectares in 2022.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 51.68 hectares in 2008.
- How does Bhutan rank for imported deforestation?
- Bhutan ranks 123rd out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,182.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Imported 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
Imported deforestation is the amount of deforestation in other countries that is driven by the production of food and forestry products that are imported. This is measured in hectares.