Tree cover loss in Congo
Congo: Tree cover loss was 114,287 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss in Congo, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Congo recorded 114,287 hectares for tree cover loss in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 69.9% on the previous year and up 61.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Congo peaked at 114,287 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13,588 hectares, in 2004.
That places Congo 36th 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 Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 26,081 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 23,683 hectares | -9.2% |
| 2003 | 18,045 hectares | -23.8% |
| 2004 | 13,588 hectares | -24.7% |
| 2005 | 18,437 hectares | +35.7% |
| 2006 | 21,498 hectares | +16.6% |
| 2007 | 29,037 hectares | +35.1% |
| 2008 | 17,024 hectares | -41.4% |
| 2009 | 18,348 hectares | +7.8% |
| 2010 | 43,273 hectares | +135.8% |
| 2011 | 27,434 hectares | -36.6% |
| 2012 | 31,176 hectares | +13.6% |
| 2013 | 53,449 hectares | +71.4% |
| 2014 | 70,777 hectares | +32.4% |
| 2015 | 47,293 hectares | -33.2% |
| 2016 | 113,657 hectares | +140.3% |
| 2017 | 63,250 hectares | -44.4% |
| 2018 | 62,404 hectares | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 73,504 hectares | +17.8% |
| 2020 | 64,198 hectares | -12.7% |
| 2021 | 57,885 hectares | -9.8% |
| 2022 | 59,116 hectares | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 67,275 hectares | +13.8% |
| 2024 | 114,287 hectares | +69.9% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 114,287 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,729 hectares, 19.9× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Congo's 114,287 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,735 hectares, 14.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20,638 hectares | 13,588 hectares | 29,037 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 58,622 hectares | 27,434 hectares | 113,657 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 72,552 hectares | 57,885 hectares | 114,287 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More reference data data for Congo
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0199 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1866 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0031 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0668 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0724 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9126 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.08 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.017 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Congo?
- Tree cover loss in Congo was 114,287 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 Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 114,287 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,588 hectares in 2004.
- How does Congo rank for tree cover loss?
- Congo ranks 36th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo 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.