Share of global annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Share of global annual deforestation was 3.3% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of global annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo, 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 Democratic Republic of Congo is 3.3%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 67.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of global annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 10.2% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2015.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 4th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of global annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.3% | — |
| 2000 | 5.1% | +18.7% |
| 2010 | 10.2% | +100.9% |
| 2015 | 3.0% | -70.6% |
| 2020 | 3.3% | +11.4% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 3.3% is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.1%, 3.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 3.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5%, 6.1× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 6.6% | 3.0% | 10.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More environment data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.26 % 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 5.2 % 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 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 0.338 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of global annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Share of global annual deforestation in Democratic Republic of Congo was 3.3% 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 Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of global annual deforestation recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2015.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for share of global annual deforestation?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 4th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of global annual deforestation rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.
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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.