Tree cover loss in France
France: Tree cover loss was 78,513 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
78,513 hectares
Change on year
down 8.5%
World rank
44th
of 197 countries
All-time high
141,906 hectares
in 2010
All-time low
25,577 hectares
in 2003
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Tree cover loss in France, 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 France stood at 78,513 hectares.
That represents a change of down 8.5% on the previous year and up 79.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in France peaked at 141,906 hectares in 2010 and was at its lowest, 25,577 hectares, in 2003.
That places France 44th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss in France, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 32,725 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 33,130 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 25,577 hectares | -22.8% |
| 2004 | 74,710 hectares | +192.1% |
| 2005 | 45,289 hectares | -39.4% |
| 2006 | 53,974 hectares | +19.2% |
| 2007 | 48,456 hectares | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 85,042 hectares | +75.5% |
| 2009 | 65,947 hectares | -22.5% |
| 2010 | 141,906 hectares | +115.2% |
| 2011 | 63,210 hectares | -55.5% |
| 2012 | 65,820 hectares | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 29,929 hectares | -54.5% |
| 2014 | 43,828 hectares | +46.4% |
| 2015 | 36,947 hectares | -15.7% |
| 2016 | 60,312 hectares | +63.2% |
| 2017 | 68,657 hectares | +13.8% |
| 2018 | 68,722 hectares | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 80,741 hectares | +17.5% |
| 2020 | 77,276 hectares | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 112,072 hectares | +45.0% |
| 2022 | 58,434 hectares | -47.9% |
| 2023 | 85,783 hectares | +46.8% |
| 2024 | 78,513 hectares | -8.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 78,513 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 7,323 hectares, 10.7× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- France's 78,513 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6,694 hectares, 11.7× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 51,650 hectares | 25,577 hectares | 85,042 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 66,007 hectares | 29,929 hectares | 141,906 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 82,416 hectares | 58,434 hectares | 112,072 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
More reference data data for France
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 22.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 18.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 11.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 14.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 106.68 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in France?
- Tree cover loss in France was 78,513 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 141,906 hectares in 2010.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 25,577 hectares in 2003.
- How does France rank for tree cover loss?
- France ranks 44th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 79.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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.