Tree cover loss in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Tree cover loss was 363.77 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss in Puerto Rico, 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 Puerto Rico stood at 363.77 hectares. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of down 52.1% on the previous year and down 57.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Puerto Rico peaked at 56,191 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 363.77 hectares, in 2024.
Puerto Rico ranks 136th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,244 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 1,158 hectares | -6.9% |
| 2003 | 1,188 hectares | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 1,318 hectares | +11.0% |
| 2005 | 1,281 hectares | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 1,237 hectares | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 1,030 hectares | -16.7% |
| 2008 | 1,208 hectares | +17.3% |
| 2009 | 946.46 hectares | -21.7% |
| 2010 | 591.99 hectares | -37.5% |
| 2011 | 1,218 hectares | +105.8% |
| 2012 | 649.51 hectares | -46.7% |
| 2013 | 694.03 hectares | +6.9% |
| 2014 | 864.98 hectares | +24.6% |
| 2015 | 716.44 hectares | -17.2% |
| 2016 | 597.81 hectares | -16.6% |
| 2017 | 56,191 hectares | +9299.4% |
| 2018 | 1,225 hectares | -97.8% |
| 2019 | 691.43 hectares | -43.6% |
| 2020 | 677.71 hectares | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 689.58 hectares | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 612.76 hectares | -11.1% |
| 2023 | 760.09 hectares | +24.0% |
| 2024 | 363.77 hectares | -52.1% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 363.77 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 7,323 hectares, 5% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 363.77 hectares is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5,347 hectares, 7% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss in Puerto Rico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +9299.4% | 597.81 hectares | 56,191 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,179 hectares | 946.46 hectares | 1,318 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 6,344 hectares | 591.99 hectares | 56,191 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 620.78 hectares | 363.77 hectares | 760.09 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More reference data data for Puerto Rico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2501 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1709 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 326.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 1,009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 34.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 34.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 36.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0077 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Puerto Rico?
- Tree cover loss in Puerto Rico was 363.77 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 Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 56,191 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 363.77 hectares in 2024.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for tree cover loss?
- Puerto Rico ranks 136th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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.