Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Japan
Japan: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 2,074 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Japan, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Japan recorded 2,074 hectares for tree cover loss by dominant driver in 2024.
The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Japan peaked at 4,122 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 1,737 hectares, in 2013.
That places Japan 12th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2,885 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 2,440 hectares | -15.4% |
| 2003 | 1,738 hectares | -28.8% |
| 2004 | 3,516 hectares | +102.3% |
| 2005 | 2,788 hectares | -20.7% |
| 2006 | 3,113 hectares | +11.7% |
| 2007 | 3,389 hectares | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 3,615 hectares | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 3,229 hectares | -10.7% |
| 2010 | 2,583 hectares | -20.0% |
| 2011 | 2,379 hectares | -7.9% |
| 2012 | 3,331 hectares | +40.0% |
| 2013 | 1,737 hectares | -47.9% |
| 2014 | 2,168 hectares | +24.8% |
| 2015 | 2,330 hectares | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 4,122 hectares | +76.9% |
| 2017 | 3,086 hectares | -25.1% |
| 2018 | 2,911 hectares | -5.6% |
| 2019 | 2,758 hectares | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 2,339 hectares | -15.2% |
| 2021 | 2,134 hectares | -8.8% |
| 2022 | 2,213 hectares | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 2,134 hectares | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 2,074 hectares | -2.8% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 2,074 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.53 hectares, 21.3× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Japan's 2,074 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 106.67 hectares, 19.4× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,968 hectares | 1,738 hectares | 3,615 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 2,740 hectares | 1,737 hectares | 4,122 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,179 hectares | 2,074 hectares | 2,339 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in Japan?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Japan was 2,074 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 4,122 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,737 hectares in 2013.
- How does Japan rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- Japan ranks 12th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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.