Imported deforestation in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Imported deforestation was 29,134 hectares in 2023. ▼ Falling
Imported deforestation in United Kingdom, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, imported deforestation in United Kingdom stood at 29,134 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.7% on the previous year and down 33.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in United Kingdom peaked at 63,938 hectares in 2007 and was at its lowest, 29,134 hectares, in 2023.
That places United Kingdom 6th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Imported deforestation in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 63,872 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 60,393 hectares | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 63,938 hectares | +5.9% |
| 2008 | 58,794 hectares | -8.0% |
| 2009 | 49,409 hectares | -16.0% |
| 2010 | 45,545 hectares | -7.8% |
| 2011 | 46,668 hectares | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 47,188 hectares | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 43,832 hectares | -7.1% |
| 2014 | 43,841 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 43,213 hectares | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 47,061 hectares | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 47,295 hectares | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 48,080 hectares | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 49,751 hectares | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 36,321 hectares | -27.0% |
| 2021 | 33,490 hectares | -7.8% |
| 2022 | 30,578 hectares | -8.7% |
| 2023 | 29,134 hectares | -4.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 29,134 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,937 hectares, 9.9× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 29,134 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2,378 hectares, 12.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 59,281 hectares | 49,409 hectares | 63,938 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 46,247 hectares | 43,213 hectares | 49,751 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,381 hectares | 29,134 hectares | 36,321 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More environment data for United Kingdom
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.13 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.47 % 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 -0.8735 % 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 -1.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is imported deforestation in United Kingdom?
- Imported deforestation in United Kingdom was 29,134 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 63,938 hectares in 2007.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 29,134 hectares in 2023.
- How does United Kingdom rank for imported deforestation?
- United Kingdom ranks 6th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.