Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Laos
Laos: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 485.83 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Laos, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tree cover loss by dominant driver in Laos is 485.83 hectares, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 7.6% on the previous year and down 36.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Laos peaked at 974.45 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 132.88 hectares, in 2001.
That places Laos 35th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Laos, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 132.88 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 184.13 hectares | +38.6% |
| 2003 | 379.32 hectares | +106.0% |
| 2004 | 296.37 hectares | -21.9% |
| 2005 | 193.03 hectares | -34.9% |
| 2006 | 658.56 hectares | +241.2% |
| 2007 | 635.75 hectares | -3.5% |
| 2008 | 415.87 hectares | -34.6% |
| 2009 | 856.66 hectares | +106.0% |
| 2010 | 897.39 hectares | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 740.05 hectares | -17.5% |
| 2012 | 831.88 hectares | +12.4% |
| 2013 | 698.12 hectares | -16.1% |
| 2014 | 759.01 hectares | +8.7% |
| 2015 | 510.14 hectares | -32.8% |
| 2016 | 974.45 hectares | +91.0% |
| 2017 | 852.86 hectares | -12.5% |
| 2018 | 779.99 hectares | -8.5% |
| 2019 | 940.54 hectares | +20.6% |
| 2020 | 567.88 hectares | -39.6% |
| 2021 | 426.29 hectares | -24.9% |
| 2022 | 420.98 hectares | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 525.79 hectares | +24.9% |
| 2024 | 485.83 hectares | -7.6% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 485.83 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.1 hectares, 9.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Laos's 485.83 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 106.67 hectares, 4.6× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +241.2% | 193.03 hectares | 658.56 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 416.95 hectares | 132.88 hectares | 856.66 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 798.44 hectares | 510.14 hectares | 974.45 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 485.35 hectares | 420.98 hectares | 567.88 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More reference data data for Laos
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6615 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.913 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3021 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.64 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in Laos?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Laos was 485.83 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 974.45 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 132.88 hectares in 2001.
- How does Laos rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- Laos ranks 35th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos 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.