Tree cover loss in South Korea
South Korea: Tree cover loss was 15,595 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss in South Korea, 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 South Korea stood at 15,595 hectares.
The figure is down 27.8% on the previous year and up 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in South Korea peaked at 25,595 hectares in 2022 and was at its lowest, 3,570 hectares, in 2003.
South Korea ranks 75th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5,393 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 4,624 hectares | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 3,570 hectares | -22.8% |
| 2004 | 11,180 hectares | +213.2% |
| 2005 | 8,800 hectares | -21.3% |
| 2006 | 9,972 hectares | +13.3% |
| 2007 | 8,008 hectares | -19.7% |
| 2008 | 13,813 hectares | +72.5% |
| 2009 | 16,229 hectares | +17.5% |
| 2010 | 14,281 hectares | -12.0% |
| 2011 | 11,598 hectares | -18.8% |
| 2012 | 15,650 hectares | +34.9% |
| 2013 | 9,340 hectares | -40.3% |
| 2014 | 13,303 hectares | +42.4% |
| 2015 | 17,250 hectares | +29.7% |
| 2016 | 22,404 hectares | +29.9% |
| 2017 | 20,639 hectares | -7.9% |
| 2018 | 21,785 hectares | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 20,688 hectares | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 20,069 hectares | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 17,294 hectares | -13.8% |
| 2022 | 25,595 hectares | +48.0% |
| 2023 | 21,592 hectares | -15.6% |
| 2024 | 15,595 hectares | -27.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 15,595 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 7,323 hectares, 2.1× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 15,595 hectares is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39,449 hectares, 40% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss in South Korea 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 | +213.2% | 3,570 hectares | 11,180 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9,066 hectares | 3,570 hectares | 16,229 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 16,694 hectares | 9,340 hectares | 22,404 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 20,029 hectares | 15,595 hectares | 25,595 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in South Korea?
- Tree cover loss in South Korea was 15,595 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 25,595 hectares in 2022.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,570 hectares in 2003.
- How does South Korea rank for tree cover loss?
- South Korea ranks 75th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea 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.