Tree cover loss in Switzerland
Switzerland: Tree cover loss was 4,131 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss in Switzerland, 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 Switzerland is 4,131 hectares, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 34.4% on the previous year and up 191.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Switzerland peaked at 4,131 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 403.77 hectares, in 2003.
Switzerland ranks 99th of 197 countries on this measure, 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 Switzerland, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,074 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 835.64 hectares | -22.2% |
| 2003 | 403.77 hectares | -51.7% |
| 2004 | 3,658 hectares | +806.0% |
| 2005 | 2,228 hectares | -39.1% |
| 2006 | 1,969 hectares | -11.6% |
| 2007 | 1,775 hectares | -9.9% |
| 2008 | 2,321 hectares | +30.7% |
| 2009 | 2,177 hectares | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 1,646 hectares | -24.4% |
| 2011 | 1,860 hectares | +13.0% |
| 2012 | 1,430 hectares | -23.1% |
| 2013 | 745.66 hectares | -47.8% |
| 2014 | 1,416 hectares | +89.8% |
| 2015 | 747.21 hectares | -47.2% |
| 2016 | 1,629 hectares | +118.0% |
| 2017 | 2,424 hectares | +48.8% |
| 2018 | 3,076 hectares | +26.9% |
| 2019 | 3,454 hectares | +12.3% |
| 2020 | 3,861 hectares | +11.8% |
| 2021 | 3,380 hectares | -12.4% |
| 2022 | 1,933 hectares | -42.8% |
| 2023 | 3,074 hectares | +59.0% |
| 2024 | 4,131 hectares | +34.4% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 4,131 hectares is below the median for high income countries, which is 7,323 hectares, 56% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 4,131 hectares is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6,694 hectares, 62% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss in Switzerland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +806.0% | 403.77 hectares | 3,658 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,827 hectares | 403.77 hectares | 3,658 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 1,843 hectares | 745.66 hectares | 3,454 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,276 hectares | 1,933 hectares | 4,131 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More reference data data for Switzerland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5507 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2683 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.28 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.272 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Switzerland?
- Tree cover loss in Switzerland was 4,131 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 Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 4,131 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 403.77 hectares in 2003.
- How does Switzerland rank for tree cover loss?
- Switzerland ranks 99th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 191.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.