Tree cover loss in China
China: Tree cover loss was 673,569 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
673,569 hectares
Change on year
up 11.9%
World rank
8th
of 197 countries
All-time high
731,528 hectares
in 2008
All-time low
223,242 hectares
in 2001
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Tree cover loss in China, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, tree cover loss in China stood at 673,569 hectares.
The figure is up 11.9% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in China peaked at 731,528 hectares in 2008 and was at its lowest, 223,242 hectares, in 2001.
China ranks 8th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss in China, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 223,242 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 242,264 hectares | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 258,142 hectares | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 494,846 hectares | +91.7% |
| 2005 | 378,450 hectares | -23.5% |
| 2006 | 569,470 hectares | +50.5% |
| 2007 | 646,761 hectares | +13.6% |
| 2008 | 731,528 hectares | +13.1% |
| 2009 | 594,076 hectares | -18.8% |
| 2010 | 621,761 hectares | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 593,339 hectares | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 595,912 hectares | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 436,964 hectares | -26.7% |
| 2014 | 528,184 hectares | +20.9% |
| 2015 | 488,796 hectares | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 716,790 hectares | +46.6% |
| 2017 | 642,178 hectares | -10.4% |
| 2018 | 568,280 hectares | -11.5% |
| 2019 | 495,286 hectares | -12.8% |
| 2020 | 420,536 hectares | -15.1% |
| 2021 | 534,560 hectares | +27.1% |
| 2022 | 609,889 hectares | +14.1% |
| 2023 | 601,861 hectares | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 673,569 hectares | +11.9% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 673,569 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,110 hectares, 163.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- China's 673,569 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39,449 hectares, 17.1× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 459,864 hectares | 223,242 hectares | 731,528 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 568,749 hectares | 436,964 hectares | 716,790 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 568,083 hectares | 420,536 hectares | 673,569 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in China?
- Tree cover loss in China was 673,569 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 731,528 hectares in 2008.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 223,242 hectares in 2001.
- How does China rank for tree cover loss?
- China ranks 8th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.