Tree cover loss in Japan
Japan: Tree cover loss was 53,588 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss in Japan, 2001–2024
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.
Tree cover loss in Japan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 22,796 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 25,099 hectares | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 19,131 hectares | -23.8% |
| 2004 | 35,974 hectares | +88.0% |
| 2005 | 35,279 hectares | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 38,020 hectares | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 44,507 hectares | +17.1% |
| 2008 | 39,847 hectares | -10.5% |
| 2009 | 39,968 hectares | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 34,705 hectares | -13.2% |
| 2011 | 34,964 hectares | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 43,762 hectares | +25.2% |
| 2013 | 22,710 hectares | -48.1% |
| 2014 | 27,572 hectares | +21.4% |
| 2015 | 30,836 hectares | +11.8% |
| 2016 | 54,236 hectares | +75.9% |
| 2017 | 47,035 hectares | -13.3% |
| 2018 | 50,169 hectares | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 51,022 hectares | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 47,762 hectares | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 48,224 hectares | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 53,499 hectares | +10.9% |
| 2023 | 50,410 hectares | -5.8% |
| 2024 | 53,588 hectares | +6.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 53,588 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 7,323 hectares, 7.3× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Japan's 53,588 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39,449 hectares, 1.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +88.0% | 19,131 hectares | 35,974 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
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
Tree cover loss driven by all causes.