Tree cover loss in Japan

Japan: Tree cover loss was 53,588 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
53,588 hectares
Change on year
up 6.3%
World rank
55th
of 197 countries
All-time high
54,236 hectares
in 2016
All-time low
19,131 hectares
in 2003
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Tree cover loss in Japan, 2001–2024

020.0k40.0k60.0k2001201220242001: 22.8k hectares2002: 25.1k hectares2003: 19.1k hectares2004: 36.0k hectares2005: 35.3k hectares2006: 38.0k hectares2007: 44.5k hectares2008: 39.8k hectares2009: 40.0k hectares2010: 34.7k hectares2011: 35.0k hectares2012: 43.8k hectares2013: 22.7k hectares2014: 27.6k hectares2015: 30.8k hectares2016: 54.2k hectares2017: 47.0k hectares2018: 50.2k hectares2019: 51.0k hectares2020: 47.8k hectares2021: 48.2k hectares2022: 53.5k hectares2023: 50.4k hectares2024: 53.6k hectares

Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.

Analysis

The most recent figure for tree cover loss in Japan is 53,588 hectares, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.3% on the previous year and up 94.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Japan peaked at 54,236 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 19,131 hectares, in 2003.

Japan ranks 55th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 33,402 hectares 19,131 hectares 44,507 hectares 9
2010s 39,701 hectares 22,710 hectares 54,236 hectares 10
2020s 50,697 hectares 47,762 hectares 53,588 hectares 5

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 52 Central African Republic 60,455 hectares compare
  2. 53 Philippines 59,070 hectares compare
  3. 54 Latvia 56,604 hectares compare
  4. 56 Chile 47,606 hectares compare
  5. 57 Portugal 43,375 hectares compare
  6. 58 Turkey 39,866 hectares compare

See the full ranking of 197 places →

More reference data data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is tree cover loss in Japan?
Tree cover loss in Japan was 53,588 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 Japan?
The highest recorded value was 54,236 hectares in 2016.
What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 19,131 hectares in 2003.
How does Japan rank for tree cover loss?
Japan ranks 55th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 94.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Japan 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

Indicator
Tree cover loss
Unit
hectares
Source
Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
197 places, 4,728 data points, 2001–2024
Last refreshed

Tree cover loss driven by all causes.