Imported deforestation in Rwanda
Rwanda: Imported deforestation was 2,273 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Imported deforestation in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda is 2,273 hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 61.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in Rwanda peaked at 9,527 hectares in 2010 and was at its lowest, 278.6 hectares, in 2005.
Rwanda ranks 97th 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 Rwanda, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 278.6 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 681.71 hectares | +144.7% |
| 2007 | 1,255 hectares | +84.1% |
| 2008 | 2,100 hectares | +67.2% |
| 2009 | 3,278 hectares | +56.1% |
| 2010 | 9,527 hectares | +190.6% |
| 2011 | 6,538 hectares | -31.4% |
| 2012 | 5,928 hectares | -9.3% |
| 2013 | 5,958 hectares | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 4,629 hectares | -22.3% |
| 2015 | 3,777 hectares | -18.4% |
| 2016 | 3,586 hectares | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 3,015 hectares | -15.9% |
| 2018 | 2,891 hectares | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 2,744 hectares | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 2,804 hectares | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 6,080 hectares | +116.8% |
| 2022 | 2,310 hectares | -62.0% |
| 2023 | 2,273 hectares | -1.6% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 2,273 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 1,701 hectares, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 2,273 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,888 hectares, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Imported deforestation in Rwanda 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +190.6% | 3,278 hectares | 9,527 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,519 hectares | 278.6 hectares | 3,278 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 4,859 hectares | 2,744 hectares | 9,527 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,367 hectares | 2,273 hectares | 6,080 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 94 Democratic Republic of Congo 2,321 hectares compare
- 95 Tajikistan 2,320 hectares compare
- 96 Costa Rica 2,303 hectares compare
- 98 Zimbabwe 2,264 hectares compare
- 99 Finland 2,261 hectares compare
- 100 Armenia 2,241 hectares compare
More environment data for Rwanda
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate -31.63 % change on previous year (2013)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2013)
- Temperature change 1.35 °C (2013)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.0359 % 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 -1.42 % 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 Rwanda?
- Imported deforestation in Rwanda was 2,273 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 9,527 hectares in 2010.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 278.6 hectares in 2005.
- How does Rwanda rank for imported deforestation?
- Rwanda ranks 97th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.