Tree cover loss by dominant driver in India
India: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 1,746 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in India, 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 India stood at 1,746 hectares.
That represents a change of down 23.2% on the previous year and up 83.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in India peaked at 2,272 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 392.46 hectares, in 2002.
That places India 14th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 India, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 418.5 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 392.46 hectares | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 451.46 hectares | +15.0% |
| 2004 | 946.68 hectares | +109.7% |
| 2005 | 893.62 hectares | -5.6% |
| 2006 | 1,307 hectares | +46.3% |
| 2007 | 1,755 hectares | +34.3% |
| 2008 | 1,652 hectares | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 1,523 hectares | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 1,093 hectares | -28.2% |
| 2011 | 2,121 hectares | +93.9% |
| 2012 | 1,746 hectares | -17.7% |
| 2013 | 595.5 hectares | -65.9% |
| 2014 | 952.22 hectares | +59.9% |
| 2015 | 677.62 hectares | -28.8% |
| 2016 | 1,728 hectares | +155.0% |
| 2017 | 1,646 hectares | -4.7% |
| 2018 | 1,238 hectares | -24.8% |
| 2019 | 1,267 hectares | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 1,302 hectares | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 1,314 hectares | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 1,570 hectares | +19.5% |
| 2023 | 2,272 hectares | +44.8% |
| 2024 | 1,746 hectares | -23.2% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 1,746 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.1 hectares, 35.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- India's 1,746 hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 175.25 hectares, 10.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,038 hectares | 392.46 hectares | 1,755 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 1,306 hectares | 595.5 hectares | 2,121 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,641 hectares | 1,302 hectares | 2,272 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in India?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in India was 1,746 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 2,272 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 392.46 hectares in 2002.
- How does India rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- India ranks 14th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.