Tree cover loss in New Zealand
New Zealand: Tree cover loss was 39,449 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand stood at 39,449 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 21.7% on the previous year and down 49.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in New Zealand peaked at 80,071 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 39,449 hectares, in 2024.
That places New Zealand 60th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 New Zealand, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 50,018 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 62,849 hectares | +25.7% |
| 2003 | 44,383 hectares | -29.4% |
| 2004 | 60,267 hectares | +35.8% |
| 2005 | 51,999 hectares | -13.7% |
| 2006 | 61,284 hectares | +17.9% |
| 2007 | 62,149 hectares | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 60,845 hectares | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 59,161 hectares | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 55,676 hectares | -5.9% |
| 2011 | 59,435 hectares | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 68,584 hectares | +15.4% |
| 2013 | 76,723 hectares | +11.9% |
| 2014 | 78,764 hectares | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 63,763 hectares | -19.0% |
| 2016 | 80,071 hectares | +25.6% |
| 2017 | 74,590 hectares | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 78,937 hectares | +5.8% |
| 2019 | 71,254 hectares | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 60,744 hectares | -14.8% |
| 2021 | 66,069 hectares | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 58,345 hectares | -11.7% |
| 2023 | 50,401 hectares | -13.6% |
| 2024 | 39,449 hectares | -21.7% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 39,449 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 7,323 hectares, 5.4× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 39,449 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39,449 hectares, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 56,995 hectares | 44,383 hectares | 62,849 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 70,780 hectares | 55,676 hectares | 80,071 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 55,001 hectares | 39,449 hectares | 66,069 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More reference data data for New Zealand
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.4532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 9.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0459 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 10.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.52 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 42.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 47.53 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2499 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in New Zealand?
- Tree cover loss in New Zealand was 39,449 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 80,071 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,449 hectares in 2024.
- How does New Zealand rank for tree cover loss?
- New Zealand ranks 60th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.