Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Australia
Australia: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 1,238 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Australia, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Australia stood at 1,238 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.8% on the previous year and down 60.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Australia peaked at 5,861 hectares in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1,238 hectares, in 2024.
Australia ranks 19th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Australia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,425 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 2,852 hectares | +17.6% |
| 2003 | 5,861 hectares | +105.5% |
| 2004 | 4,406 hectares | -24.8% |
| 2005 | 4,372 hectares | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 3,711 hectares | -15.1% |
| 2007 | 4,634 hectares | +24.9% |
| 2008 | 3,909 hectares | -15.6% |
| 2009 | 3,431 hectares | -12.2% |
| 2010 | 2,652 hectares | -22.7% |
| 2011 | 2,408 hectares | -9.2% |
| 2012 | 3,574 hectares | +48.4% |
| 2013 | 2,866 hectares | -19.8% |
| 2014 | 3,104 hectares | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 2,806 hectares | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 4,180 hectares | +49.0% |
| 2017 | 3,398 hectares | -18.7% |
| 2018 | 2,203 hectares | -35.2% |
| 2019 | 2,495 hectares | +13.3% |
| 2020 | 1,825 hectares | -26.8% |
| 2021 | 2,219 hectares | +21.5% |
| 2022 | 2,169 hectares | -2.2% |
| 2023 | 1,435 hectares | -33.8% |
| 2024 | 1,238 hectares | -13.8% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 1,238 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.53 hectares, 12.7× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Australia's 1,238 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 106.67 hectares, 11.6× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,956 hectares | 2,425 hectares | 5,861 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 2,969 hectares | 2,203 hectares | 4,180 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,777 hectares | 1,238 hectares | 2,219 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in Australia?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Australia was 1,238 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 5,861 hectares in 2003.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,238 hectares in 2024.
- How does Australia rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- Australia ranks 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 60.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tree cover loss by dominant driver. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Tree cover loss due to the expansion and intensification of roads, settlements, urban areas, or other built infrastructure.