Imported deforestation in United States
United States: Imported deforestation was 198,489 hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising
Imported deforestation in United States, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
United States recorded 198,489 hectares for imported deforestation in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.7% on the previous year and up 6.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in United States peaked at 254,798 hectares in 2018 and was at its lowest, 183,601 hectares, in 2010.
That places United States 2nd out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Imported deforestation in United States, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 217,538 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 208,710 hectares | -4.1% |
| 2007 | 199,085 hectares | -4.6% |
| 2008 | 193,507 hectares | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 188,303 hectares | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 183,601 hectares | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 184,928 hectares | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 193,705 hectares | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 185,966 hectares | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 200,733 hectares | +7.9% |
| 2015 | 212,163 hectares | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 243,412 hectares | +14.7% |
| 2017 | 252,519 hectares | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 254,798 hectares | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 243,399 hectares | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 221,193 hectares | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 215,340 hectares | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 215,029 hectares | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 198,489 hectares | -7.7% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 198,489 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,937 hectares, 67.6× the median. (59 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 201,429 hectares | 188,303 hectares | 217,538 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 215,522 hectares | 183,601 hectares | 254,798 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 212,513 hectares | 198,489 hectares | 221,193 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More environment data for United States
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % 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 -0.624 % 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 0.1269 % 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 States?
- Imported deforestation in United States was 198,489 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 254,798 hectares in 2018.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 183,601 hectares in 2010.
- How does United States rank for imported deforestation?
- United States ranks 2nd out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.