Tree cover loss in Laos
Laos: Tree cover loss was 351,069 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
351,069 hectares
Change on year
down 21.2%
World rank
9th
of 197 countries
All-time high
445,367 hectares
in 2023
All-time low
36,315 hectares
in 2001
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Tree cover loss in Laos, 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 Laos stood at 351,069 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 21.2% on the previous year and up 44.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Laos peaked at 445,367 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 36,315 hectares, in 2001.
That places Laos 9th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss in Laos, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 36,315 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 55,725 hectares | +53.5% |
| 2003 | 86,943 hectares | +56.0% |
| 2004 | 64,112 hectares | -26.3% |
| 2005 | 68,161 hectares | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 122,475 hectares | +79.7% |
| 2007 | 132,801 hectares | +8.4% |
| 2008 | 80,460 hectares | -39.4% |
| 2009 | 145,335 hectares | +80.6% |
| 2010 | 166,878 hectares | +14.8% |
| 2011 | 130,667 hectares | -21.7% |
| 2012 | 147,060 hectares | +12.5% |
| 2013 | 205,458 hectares | +39.7% |
| 2014 | 243,587 hectares | +18.6% |
| 2015 | 284,755 hectares | +16.9% |
| 2016 | 387,480 hectares | +36.1% |
| 2017 | 348,936 hectares | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 294,554 hectares | -15.6% |
| 2019 | 364,606 hectares | +23.8% |
| 2020 | 357,386 hectares | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 317,479 hectares | -11.2% |
| 2022 | 321,619 hectares | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 445,367 hectares | +38.5% |
| 2024 | 351,069 hectares | -21.2% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 351,069 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,729 hectares, 61.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Laos's 351,069 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39,449 hectares, 8.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 88,036 hectares | 36,315 hectares | 145,335 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 257,398 hectares | 130,667 hectares | 387,480 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 358,584 hectares | 317,479 hectares | 445,367 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More reference data data for Laos
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6615 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.913 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3021 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.64 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Laos?
- Tree cover loss in Laos was 351,069 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 445,367 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 36,315 hectares in 2001.
- How does Laos rank for tree cover loss?
- Laos ranks 9th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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.