Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Switzerland
Switzerland: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 203.72 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Switzerland, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 203.72 hectares for tree cover loss by dominant driver in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 77.5% on the previous year and up 178.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Switzerland peaked at 203.72 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 32.67 hectares, in 2003.
That places Switzerland 68th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 47.93 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 39.77 hectares | -17.0% |
| 2003 | 32.67 hectares | -17.9% |
| 2004 | 133.15 hectares | +307.6% |
| 2005 | 98.63 hectares | -25.9% |
| 2006 | 160.32 hectares | +62.5% |
| 2007 | 98.71 hectares | -38.4% |
| 2008 | 129.62 hectares | +31.3% |
| 2009 | 136.88 hectares | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 128.22 hectares | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 80.12 hectares | -37.5% |
| 2012 | 101.52 hectares | +26.7% |
| 2013 | 58.38 hectares | -42.5% |
| 2014 | 73.29 hectares | +25.5% |
| 2015 | 41.71 hectares | -43.1% |
| 2016 | 102.79 hectares | +146.4% |
| 2017 | 118.27 hectares | +15.1% |
| 2018 | 143.27 hectares | +21.1% |
| 2019 | 184.61 hectares | +28.9% |
| 2020 | 148.33 hectares | -19.7% |
| 2021 | 84.88 hectares | -42.8% |
| 2022 | 70.91 hectares | -16.5% |
| 2023 | 114.76 hectares | +61.8% |
| 2024 | 203.72 hectares | +77.5% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 203.72 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.53 hectares, 2.1× the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 203.72 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 97.53 hectares, 2.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +307.6% | 32.67 hectares | 133.15 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 97.52 hectares | 32.67 hectares | 160.32 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 103.22 hectares | 41.71 hectares | 184.61 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 124.52 hectares | 70.91 hectares | 203.72 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in Switzerland?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Switzerland was 203.72 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 203.72 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.67 hectares in 2003.
- How does Switzerland rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- Switzerland ranks 68th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 178.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.