Tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled in South Africa
South Africa: Tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled was 304.52 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled in South Africa, 2001–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in hectares.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 304.52 hectares for tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and down 47.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled in South Africa peaked at 1,188 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 302.27 hectares, in 2023.
That places South Africa 49th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled in South Africa, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 379.38 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 368.13 hectares | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 607.95 hectares | +65.1% |
| 2004 | 776.98 hectares | +27.8% |
| 2005 | 797.6 hectares | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 817.97 hectares | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 725.42 hectares | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 551.34 hectares | -24.0% |
| 2009 | 578.81 hectares | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 454.4 hectares | -21.5% |
| 2011 | 404.72 hectares | -10.9% |
| 2012 | 379.3 hectares | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 420.26 hectares | +10.8% |
| 2014 | 579.65 hectares | +37.9% |
| 2015 | 640.83 hectares | +10.6% |
| 2016 | 590.08 hectares | -7.9% |
| 2017 | 1,188 hectares | +101.3% |
| 2018 | 773.22 hectares | -34.9% |
| 2019 | 590.29 hectares | -23.7% |
| 2020 | 658.85 hectares | +11.6% |
| 2021 | 593.94 hectares | -9.9% |
| 2022 | 431.43 hectares | -27.4% |
| 2023 | 302.27 hectares | -29.9% |
| 2024 | 304.52 hectares | +0.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 304.52 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 135.51 hectares, 2.2× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 304.52 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 168.49 hectares, 1.8× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 622.62 hectares | 368.13 hectares | 817.97 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 602.07 hectares | 379.3 hectares | 1,188 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 458.2 hectares | 302.27 hectares | 658.85 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled in South Africa?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled in South Africa was 304.52 hectares in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,188 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 302.27 hectares in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled?
- South Africa ranks 49th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Tree cover loss by dominant driver, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Tree cover loss by dominant driver with 111 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Tree cover loss by dominant driver with 111 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.