Tree cover loss in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Tree cover loss was 11,720 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss in Sri Lanka, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tree cover loss in Sri Lanka is 11,720 hectares, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Sri Lanka peaked at 17,433 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 3,107 hectares, in 2003.
That places Sri Lanka 82nd 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3,693 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 3,376 hectares | -8.6% |
| 2003 | 3,107 hectares | -8.0% |
| 2004 | 5,520 hectares | +77.7% |
| 2005 | 4,606 hectares | -16.6% |
| 2006 | 7,646 hectares | +66.0% |
| 2007 | 10,162 hectares | +32.9% |
| 2008 | 6,424 hectares | -36.8% |
| 2009 | 13,867 hectares | +115.9% |
| 2010 | 7,162 hectares | -48.4% |
| 2011 | 14,615 hectares | +104.1% |
| 2012 | 14,290 hectares | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 7,877 hectares | -44.9% |
| 2014 | 12,255 hectares | +55.6% |
| 2015 | 7,365 hectares | -39.9% |
| 2016 | 17,433 hectares | +136.7% |
| 2017 | 13,006 hectares | -25.4% |
| 2018 | 13,106 hectares | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 10,259 hectares | -21.7% |
| 2020 | 11,174 hectares | +8.9% |
| 2021 | 13,262 hectares | +18.7% |
| 2022 | 8,385 hectares | -36.8% |
| 2023 | 11,676 hectares | +39.2% |
| 2024 | 11,720 hectares | +0.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 11,720 hectares is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,110 hectares, 2.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 11,720 hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 7,149 hectares, 1.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6,489 hectares | 3,107 hectares | 13,867 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 11,737 hectares | 7,162 hectares | 17,433 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,243 hectares | 8,385 hectares | 13,262 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More reference data data for Sri Lanka
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.316 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1784 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.33 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.539 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1604 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9713 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Sri Lanka?
- Tree cover loss in Sri Lanka was 11,720 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 17,433 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,107 hectares in 2003.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for tree cover loss?
- Sri Lanka ranks 82nd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.