Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 136.25 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico is 136.25 hectares, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 45.2% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Puerto Rico peaked at 5,627 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 136.25 hectares, in 2024.
Puerto Rico ranks 75th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 481.01 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 390.87 hectares | -18.7% |
| 2003 | 492.95 hectares | +26.1% |
| 2004 | 529.53 hectares | +7.4% |
| 2005 | 519.46 hectares | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 518.29 hectares | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 382.02 hectares | -26.3% |
| 2008 | 454.9 hectares | +19.1% |
| 2009 | 332.17 hectares | -27.0% |
| 2010 | 204.53 hectares | -38.4% |
| 2011 | 282.99 hectares | +38.4% |
| 2012 | 157.15 hectares | -44.5% |
| 2013 | 145.54 hectares | -7.4% |
| 2014 | 168.08 hectares | +15.5% |
| 2015 | 177.34 hectares | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 185.64 hectares | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 5,627 hectares | +2931.2% |
| 2018 | 159.38 hectares | -97.2% |
| 2019 | 182.19 hectares | +14.3% |
| 2020 | 180.74 hectares | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 226.51 hectares | +25.3% |
| 2022 | 229.71 hectares | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 248.81 hectares | +8.3% |
| 2024 | 136.25 hectares | -45.2% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 136.25 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.53 hectares, 1.4× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 136.25 hectares is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 105.54 hectares, 1.3× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Puerto Rico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +2931.2% | 185.64 hectares | 5,627 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 455.69 hectares | 332.17 hectares | 529.53 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 728.98 hectares | 145.54 hectares | 5,627 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 204.41 hectares | 136.25 hectares | 248.81 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More reference data data for Puerto Rico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2501 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1709 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 326.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 1,009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 34.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 34.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 36.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0077 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in Puerto Rico?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Puerto Rico was 136.25 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 5,627 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 136.25 hectares in 2024.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- Puerto Rico ranks 75th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.