Share of global annual deforestation in China
China: Share of global annual deforestation was 3.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of global annual deforestation in China, 1990–2020
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of global annual deforestation in China is 3.2%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global annual deforestation in China peaked at 3.5% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1990.
China ranks 5th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of global annual deforestation in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.1% | — |
| 2000 | 2.3% | +13.3% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | +42.3% |
| 2015 | 3.5% | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 3.2% | -8.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3.2% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.1%, 32.2× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- China's 3.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.1%, 39.4× the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % 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 0.9037 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global annual deforestation in China?
- Share of global annual deforestation in China was 3.2% in 2020, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of global annual deforestation recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5% in 2015.
- What is the lowest share of global annual deforestation recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1990.
- How does China rank for share of global annual deforestation?
- China ranks 5th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of global annual deforestation rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of global annual deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of global deforestation represents the proportion of a country's deforestation relative to the total global deforestation.