Imported deforestation in Portugal
Portugal: Imported deforestation was 4,002 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Imported deforestation in Portugal, 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 Portugal is 4,002 hectares, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.5% on the previous year and down 45.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in Portugal peaked at 24,224 hectares in 2010 and was at its lowest, 4,002 hectares, in 2023.
Portugal ranks 57th 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 9,783 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 14,130 hectares | +44.4% |
| 2007 | 23,219 hectares | +64.3% |
| 2008 | 20,999 hectares | -9.6% |
| 2009 | 8,455 hectares | -59.7% |
| 2010 | 24,224 hectares | +186.5% |
| 2011 | 10,684 hectares | -55.9% |
| 2012 | 6,170 hectares | -42.2% |
| 2013 | 7,333 hectares | +18.8% |
| 2014 | 7,179 hectares | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 5,631 hectares | -21.6% |
| 2016 | 8,539 hectares | +51.7% |
| 2017 | 8,688 hectares | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 7,481 hectares | -13.9% |
| 2019 | 8,179 hectares | +9.3% |
| 2020 | 6,080 hectares | -25.7% |
| 2021 | 7,866 hectares | +29.4% |
| 2022 | 4,682 hectares | -40.5% |
| 2023 | 4,002 hectares | -14.5% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 4,002 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,937 hectares, 1.4× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 4,002 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2,378 hectares, 1.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15,317 hectares | 8,455 hectares | 23,219 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 9,411 hectares | 5,631 hectares | 24,224 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,658 hectares | 4,002 hectares | 7,866 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More environment data for Portugal
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.6043 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.5127 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.44 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.15 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.29 % 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 0.1607 % 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 Portugal?
- Imported deforestation in Portugal was 4,002 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 24,224 hectares in 2010.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,002 hectares in 2023.
- How does Portugal rank for imported deforestation?
- Portugal ranks 57th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 45.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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.