Tree cover loss in Australia
Australia: Tree cover loss was 180,504 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss in Australia, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Australia recorded 180,504 hectares for tree cover loss in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.3% on the previous year and down 35.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Australia peaked at 2.36 million hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 118,634 hectares, in 2022.
That places Australia 24th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss in Australia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 217,718 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 311,125 hectares | +42.9% |
| 2003 | 371,664 hectares | +19.5% |
| 2004 | 123,487 hectares | -66.8% |
| 2005 | 175,722 hectares | +42.3% |
| 2006 | 185,044 hectares | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 370,789 hectares | +100.4% |
| 2008 | 204,491 hectares | -44.8% |
| 2009 | 202,312 hectares | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 289,057 hectares | +42.9% |
| 2011 | 120,062 hectares | -58.5% |
| 2012 | 137,862 hectares | +14.8% |
| 2013 | 258,393 hectares | +87.4% |
| 2014 | 279,935 hectares | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 260,745 hectares | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 430,366 hectares | +65.1% |
| 2017 | 236,405 hectares | -45.1% |
| 2018 | 250,385 hectares | +5.9% |
| 2019 | 1.66 million hectares | +563.2% |
| 2020 | 2.36 million hectares | +41.9% |
| 2021 | 260,521 hectares | -88.9% |
| 2022 | 118,634 hectares | -54.5% |
| 2023 | 190,607 hectares | +60.7% |
| 2024 | 180,504 hectares | -5.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 180,504 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 7,323 hectares, 24.7× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Australia's 180,504 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39,449 hectares, 4.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss in Australia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +563.2% | 250,385 hectares | 1.66 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 240,261 hectares | 123,487 hectares | 371,664 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 392,373 hectares | 120,062 hectares | 1.66 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 621,201 hectares | 118,634 hectares | 2.36 million hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Australia?
- Tree cover loss in Australia was 180,504 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.36 million hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 118,634 hectares in 2022.
- How does Australia rank for tree cover loss?
- Australia ranks 24th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia 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. 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 driven by all causes.