Imported deforestation in Iraq
Iraq: Imported deforestation was 5,824 hectares in 2023. ▼ Falling
Imported deforestation in Iraq, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for imported deforestation in Iraq is 5,824 hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and down 28.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in Iraq peaked at 10,762 hectares in 2009 and was at its lowest, 4,175 hectares, in 2006.
That places Iraq 43rd out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Imported deforestation in Iraq, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7,422 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 4,175 hectares | -43.8% |
| 2007 | 7,159 hectares | +71.5% |
| 2008 | 8,116 hectares | +13.4% |
| 2009 | 10,762 hectares | +32.6% |
| 2010 | 7,469 hectares | -30.6% |
| 2011 | 7,534 hectares | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 9,917 hectares | +31.6% |
| 2013 | 8,086 hectares | -18.5% |
| 2014 | 9,081 hectares | +12.3% |
| 2015 | 9,446 hectares | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 9,619 hectares | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 8,964 hectares | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 8,672 hectares | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 10,558 hectares | +21.8% |
| 2020 | 5,681 hectares | -46.2% |
| 2021 | 4,396 hectares | -22.6% |
| 2022 | 5,604 hectares | +27.5% |
| 2023 | 5,824 hectares | +3.9% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 5,824 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 2,929 hectares, 2.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 5,824 hectares is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2,937 hectares, 2.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,527 hectares | 4,175 hectares | 10,762 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 8,935 hectares | 7,469 hectares | 10,558 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,376 hectares | 4,396 hectares | 5,824 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
- 40 South Africa 6,859 hectares compare
- 41 Philippines 6,772 hectares compare
- 42 Switzerland 5,865 hectares compare
- 44 Bolivia 5,619 hectares compare
- 45 Mali 5,407 hectares compare
- 46 Nigeria 5,345 hectares compare
More environment data for Iraq
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -38.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -26.27 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.549 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.99 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2 % 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 6.65 % 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 Iraq?
- Imported deforestation in Iraq was 5,824 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 10,762 hectares in 2009.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,175 hectares in 2006.
- How does Iraq rank for imported deforestation?
- Iraq ranks 43rd out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iraq 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.