Imported deforestation in Switzerland
Switzerland: Imported deforestation was 5,865 hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising
Imported deforestation in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland is 5,865 hectares, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.7% on the previous year and down 48.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in Switzerland peaked at 17,445 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 5,865 hectares, in 2023.
Switzerland ranks 42nd of 178 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Imported deforestation in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 8,935 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 9,900 hectares | +10.8% |
| 2007 | 9,306 hectares | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 9,978 hectares | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 10,118 hectares | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 10,818 hectares | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 12,449 hectares | +15.1% |
| 2012 | 12,302 hectares | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 11,313 hectares | -8.0% |
| 2014 | 12,167 hectares | +7.6% |
| 2015 | 14,141 hectares | +16.2% |
| 2016 | 17,445 hectares | +23.4% |
| 2017 | 17,237 hectares | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 16,102 hectares | -6.6% |
| 2019 | 14,907 hectares | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 12,137 hectares | -18.6% |
| 2021 | 11,994 hectares | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 6,427 hectares | -46.4% |
| 2023 | 5,865 hectares | -8.7% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 5,865 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,937 hectares, 2.0× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 5,865 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2,378 hectares, 2.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9,647 hectares | 8,935 hectares | 10,118 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 13,888 hectares | 10,818 hectares | 17,445 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,106 hectares | 5,865 hectares | 12,137 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More environment data for Switzerland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.2925 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -0.4333 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.458 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.33 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.2741 % 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 0.0914 % 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 Switzerland?
- Imported deforestation in Switzerland was 5,865 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 17,445 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,865 hectares in 2023.
- How does Switzerland rank for imported deforestation?
- Switzerland ranks 42nd out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.