Tree cover loss in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Tree cover loss was 22,786 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss in United Kingdom, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 22,786 hectares for tree cover loss in 2024.
That represents a change of up 5.6% on the previous year and down 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in United Kingdom peaked at 37,148 hectares in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1,826 hectares, in 2003.
United Kingdom ranks 68th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 21,280 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 19,317 hectares | -9.2% |
| 2003 | 1,826 hectares | -90.5% |
| 2004 | 24,452 hectares | +1238.8% |
| 2005 | 8,513 hectares | -65.2% |
| 2006 | 20,443 hectares | +140.1% |
| 2007 | 30,787 hectares | +50.6% |
| 2008 | 12,051 hectares | -60.9% |
| 2009 | 37,148 hectares | +208.3% |
| 2010 | 27,777 hectares | -25.2% |
| 2011 | 22,306 hectares | -19.7% |
| 2012 | 35,108 hectares | +57.4% |
| 2013 | 28,206 hectares | -19.7% |
| 2014 | 30,033 hectares | +6.5% |
| 2015 | 23,924 hectares | -20.3% |
| 2016 | 28,741 hectares | +20.1% |
| 2017 | 22,930 hectares | -20.2% |
| 2018 | 26,205 hectares | +14.3% |
| 2019 | 28,312 hectares | +8.0% |
| 2020 | 22,782 hectares | -19.5% |
| 2021 | 26,135 hectares | +14.7% |
| 2022 | 34,067 hectares | +30.4% |
| 2023 | 21,574 hectares | -36.7% |
| 2024 | 22,786 hectares | +5.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 22,786 hectares is above the median for high income countries, which is 7,323 hectares, 3.1× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 22,786 hectares is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6,694 hectares, 3.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss in United Kingdom 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 | +1238.8% | 1,826 hectares | 24,452 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19,535 hectares | 1,826 hectares | 37,148 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 27,354 hectares | 22,306 hectares | 35,108 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 25,469 hectares | 21,574 hectares | 34,067 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in United Kingdom?
- Tree cover loss in United Kingdom was 22,786 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 37,148 hectares in 2009.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,826 hectares in 2003.
- How does United Kingdom rank for tree cover loss?
- United Kingdom ranks 68th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.