Tree cover loss in Maldives
Maldives: Tree cover loss was 18.8 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss in Maldives, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Maldives recorded 18.8 hectares for tree cover loss in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 32.2% on the previous year and up 602.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Maldives peaked at 18.8 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2015.
That places Maldives 162nd out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss in Maldives, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3.83 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 4.21 hectares | +9.9% |
| 2003 | 1.15 hectares | -72.7% |
| 2004 | 1.61 hectares | +39.9% |
| 2005 | 1.91 hectares | +19.1% |
| 2006 | 1.99 hectares | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 4.28 hectares | +114.8% |
| 2008 | 5.35 hectares | +25.0% |
| 2009 | 2.98 hectares | -44.3% |
| 2010 | 1.99 hectares | -33.3% |
| 2011 | 8.8 hectares | +342.6% |
| 2012 | 1.3 hectares | -85.2% |
| 2013 | 2.06 hectares | +58.3% |
| 2014 | 2.68 hectares | +29.6% |
| 2015 | 0 hectares | -100.0% |
| 2016 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2017 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2018 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2019 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2020 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2021 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2022 | 0 hectares | — |
| 2023 | 14.22 hectares | — |
| 2024 | 18.8 hectares | +32.2% |
Maldives compared with similar countries
- Maldives's 18.8 hectares is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,110 hectares, 0% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Maldives's 18.8 hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 7,149 hectares, 0% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.03 hectares | 1.15 hectares | 5.35 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 1.68 hectares | 0 hectares | 8.8 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.6 hectares | 0 hectares | 18.8 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Maldives
- 159 Turks and Caicos Islands 21.32 hectares compare
- 160 United States Virgin Islands 20.61 hectares compare
- 161 Saint Lucia 18.91 hectares compare
- 163 Andorra 16.54 hectares compare
- 164 Gambia 15.36 hectares compare
- 165 Barbados 8.47 hectares compare
More reference data data for Maldives
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0044 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0044 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 1.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Crop Residues 0.012 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0004 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Maldives?
- Tree cover loss in Maldives was 18.8 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 Maldives?
- The highest recorded value was 18.8 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Maldives?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2015.
- How does Maldives rank for tree cover loss?
- Maldives ranks 162nd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Maldives?
- Over the last ten years it is up 602.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Maldives 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.