Imported deforestation in South Korea
South Korea: Imported deforestation was 27,738 hectares in 2023. ▼ Falling
Imported deforestation in South Korea, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, imported deforestation in South Korea stood at 27,738 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 47.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in South Korea peaked at 52,756 hectares in 2013 and was at its lowest, 27,738 hectares, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 8th of 178 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Imported deforestation in South Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 31,297 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 36,377 hectares | +16.2% |
| 2007 | 38,177 hectares | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 34,605 hectares | -9.4% |
| 2009 | 35,720 hectares | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 39,454 hectares | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 42,473 hectares | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 50,253 hectares | +18.3% |
| 2013 | 52,756 hectares | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 44,856 hectares | -15.0% |
| 2015 | 41,469 hectares | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 52,703 hectares | +27.1% |
| 2017 | 49,221 hectares | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 47,128 hectares | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 45,958 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 32,492 hectares | -29.3% |
| 2021 | 30,654 hectares | -5.7% |
| 2022 | 28,382 hectares | -7.4% |
| 2023 | 27,738 hectares | -2.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 27,738 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,937 hectares, 9.4× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 27,738 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2,593 hectares, 10.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35,235 hectares | 31,297 hectares | 38,177 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 46,627 hectares | 39,454 hectares | 52,756 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 29,816 hectares | 27,738 hectares | 32,492 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 imported deforestation in South Korea?
- Imported deforestation in South Korea was 27,738 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 52,756 hectares in 2013.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 27,738 hectares in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for imported deforestation?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 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.