Primary Forest Loss in India

India: Primary Forest Loss was 17,812 in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
17,812
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
23rd
of 80 countries
All-time high
24,375
in 2016
All-time low
8,256
in 2003
Years of data
24
2002–2025

Primary Forest Loss in India, 2002–2025

10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k2002201320252002: 8.6k2003: 8.3k2004: 14.2k2005: 11.1k2006: 11.2k2007: 13.0k2008: 16.0k2009: 14.0k2010: 9.3k2011: 13.5k2012: 15.0k2013: 11.7k2014: 18.3k2015: 17.5k2016: 24.4k2017: 23.8k2018: 15.5k2019: 14.5k2020: 17.0k2021: 18.3k2022: 16.9k2023: 17.7k2024: 18.2k2025: 17.8k

Source: World Bank.

Analysis

In 2025, primary forest loss in India stood at 17,812.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, primary forest loss in India peaked at 24,375 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 8,256, in 2003.

India ranks 23rd of 80 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.

Primary Forest Loss in India, year by year

Annual values for Primary Forest Loss in India, 2002 to 2025.
Year Value Change
2002 8,615 —
2003 8,256 -4.2%
2004 14,204 +72.0%
2005 11,134 -21.6%
2006 11,175 +0.4%
2007 12,972 +16.1%
2008 16,047 +23.7%
2009 13,974 -12.9%
2010 9,261 -33.7%
2011 13,505 +45.8%
2012 15,038 +11.4%
2013 11,686 -22.3%
2014 18,279 +56.4%
2015 17,494 -4.3%
2016 24,375 +39.3%
2017 23,806 -2.3%
2018 15,515 -34.8%
2019 14,468 -6.7%
2020 16,993 +17.5%
2021 18,335 +7.9%
2022 16,878 -7.9%
2023 17,739 +5.1%
2024 18,186 +2.5%
2025 17,812 -2.1%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 17,812 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 7,149, 2.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
  • India's 17,812 is above the median for South Asia, which is 402, 44.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 12,047 8,256 16,047 8
2010s 16,343 9,261 24,375 10
2020s 17,657 16,878 18,335 6

Countries ranked near India

  1. 20 Venezuela 22,184 compare
  2. 21 Angola 21,696 compare
  3. 22 Guatemala 18,578 compare
  4. 24 Paraguay 17,718 compare
  5. 25 Nigeria 17,547 compare
  6. 26 Ecuador 17,292 compare

See the full ranking of 80 places →

More agriculture & rural data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is primary forest loss in India?
Primary forest loss in India was 17,812 in 2025, according to the World Bank.
What is the highest primary forest loss recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 24,375 in 2016.
What is the lowest primary forest loss recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 8,256 in 2003.
How does India rank for primary forest loss?
India ranks 23rd out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
Is primary forest loss rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from the World Bank, published as part of Primary Forest Loss. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Primary Forest Loss in India. Statizoid. Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/primary-forest-loss/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Primary Forest Loss
Source
World Bank
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
80 places, 1,920 data points, 2002–2025
Last refreshed