Tree cover loss by dominant driver in China
China: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 36,528 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in China, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
China recorded 36,528 hectares for tree cover loss by dominant driver in 2024.
The figure is up 14.5% on the previous year and up 70.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in China peaked at 49,448 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 6,739 hectares, in 2001.
China ranks 2nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in China, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6,739 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 8,227 hectares | +22.1% |
| 2003 | 7,170 hectares | -12.9% |
| 2004 | 14,662 hectares | +104.5% |
| 2005 | 13,189 hectares | -10.0% |
| 2006 | 16,087 hectares | +22.0% |
| 2007 | 22,194 hectares | +38.0% |
| 2008 | 24,635 hectares | +11.0% |
| 2009 | 26,508 hectares | +7.6% |
| 2010 | 30,075 hectares | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 27,363 hectares | -9.0% |
| 2012 | 25,690 hectares | -6.1% |
| 2013 | 18,245 hectares | -29.0% |
| 2014 | 21,384 hectares | +17.2% |
| 2015 | 19,276 hectares | -9.9% |
| 2016 | 38,082 hectares | +97.6% |
| 2017 | 49,448 hectares | +29.8% |
| 2018 | 36,921 hectares | -25.3% |
| 2019 | 32,929 hectares | -10.8% |
| 2020 | 29,918 hectares | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 29,767 hectares | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 30,255 hectares | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 31,889 hectares | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 36,528 hectares | +14.5% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 36,528 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 135.51 hectares, 269.6× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- China's 36,528 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 106.67 hectares, 342.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15,490 hectares | 6,739 hectares | 26,508 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 29,941 hectares | 18,245 hectares | 49,448 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 31,672 hectares | 29,767 hectares | 36,528 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in China?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in China was 36,528 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 49,448 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,739 hectares in 2001.
- How does China rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- China ranks 2nd out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.