Tree cover loss by dominant driver in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 44.47 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 44.47 hectares.
The figure is up 7.3% on the previous year and down 65.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in United Kingdom peaked at 168.11 hectares in 2001 and was at its lowest, 11.75 hectares, in 2003.
That places United Kingdom 107th out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 168.11 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 83.54 hectares | -50.3% |
| 2003 | 11.75 hectares | -85.9% |
| 2004 | 90.34 hectares | +668.6% |
| 2005 | 57.77 hectares | -36.0% |
| 2006 | 135.74 hectares | +135.0% |
| 2007 | 100.05 hectares | -26.3% |
| 2008 | 157.66 hectares | +57.6% |
| 2009 | 112.08 hectares | -28.9% |
| 2010 | 112.02 hectares | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 83.3 hectares | -25.6% |
| 2012 | 111.58 hectares | +33.9% |
| 2013 | 94.12 hectares | -15.6% |
| 2014 | 129.82 hectares | +37.9% |
| 2015 | 53.12 hectares | -59.1% |
| 2016 | 114.48 hectares | +115.5% |
| 2017 | 97.46 hectares | -14.9% |
| 2018 | 74.29 hectares | -23.8% |
| 2019 | 73.77 hectares | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 42.66 hectares | -42.2% |
| 2021 | 48.21 hectares | +13.0% |
| 2022 | 47.1 hectares | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 41.46 hectares | -12.0% |
| 2024 | 44.47 hectares | +7.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 44.47 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 97.53 hectares, 46% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 44.47 hectares is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 97.53 hectares, 46% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss by dominant driver in United Kingdom 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 | +668.6% | 11.75 hectares | 90.34 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 101.89 hectares | 11.75 hectares | 168.11 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 94.39 hectares | 53.12 hectares | 129.82 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 44.78 hectares | 41.46 hectares | 48.21 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in United Kingdom?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in United Kingdom was 44.47 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 168.11 hectares in 2001.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.75 hectares in 2003.
- How does United Kingdom rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- United Kingdom ranks 107th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.