Tree Cover Loss in Congo
Congo: Tree Cover Loss was 70,834 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Tree Cover Loss in Congo, 2001–2025
Source: Global Forest Watch. Tree Cover Loss (Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA). Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, tree cover loss in Congo stood at 70,834 hectares.
That represents a change of down 38.2% on the previous year and up 48.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Congo peaked at 114,668 hectares in 2024 and was at its lowest, 13,833 hectares, in 2004.
That places Congo 42nd out of 190 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree Cover Loss in Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 27,031 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 24,310 hectares | -10.1% |
| 2003 | 18,514 hectares | -23.8% |
| 2004 | 13,833 hectares | -25.3% |
| 2005 | 18,853 hectares | +36.3% |
| 2006 | 22,154 hectares | +17.5% |
| 2007 | 29,765 hectares | +34.4% |
| 2008 | 17,375 hectares | -41.6% |
| 2009 | 19,073 hectares | +9.8% |
| 2010 | 44,665 hectares | +134.2% |
| 2011 | 28,374 hectares | -36.5% |
| 2012 | 32,143 hectares | +13.3% |
| 2013 | 54,642 hectares | +70.0% |
| 2014 | 72,891 hectares | +33.4% |
| 2015 | 47,823 hectares | -34.4% |
| 2016 | 114,304 hectares | +139.0% |
| 2017 | 63,875 hectares | -44.1% |
| 2018 | 62,698 hectares | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 73,758 hectares | +17.6% |
| 2020 | 64,540 hectares | -12.5% |
| 2021 | 58,193 hectares | -9.8% |
| 2022 | 59,425 hectares | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 67,415 hectares | +13.4% |
| 2024 | 114,668 hectares | +70.1% |
| 2025 | 70,834 hectares | -38.2% |
Congo compared with similar countries
- Congo's 70,834 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4,562 hectares, 15.5× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Congo's 70,834 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8,252 hectares, 8.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21,212 hectares | 13,833 hectares | 29,765 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 59,517 hectares | 28,374 hectares | 114,304 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 72,512 hectares | 58,193 hectares | 114,668 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More agriculture & rural data for Congo
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 11.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1011 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 254.21 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3588 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 10.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 10.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.4% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Congo?
- Tree cover loss in Congo was 70,834 hectares in 2025, according to Global Forest Watch. Tree Cover Loss (Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA).
- What is the highest tree cover loss recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 114,668 hectares in 2024.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,833 hectares in 2004.
- How does Congo rank for tree cover loss?
- Congo ranks 42nd out of 190 countries with data for 2025.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Global Forest Watch. Tree Cover Loss (Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA), published as part of Tree Cover Loss (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Shows year-by-year tree cover loss, defined as stand level replacement of vegetation greater than 5 meters, within the selected area. The tree cover loss data set is a collaboration of the University of Maryland, Google, USGS, and NASA, and uses Landsat satellite images to map annual tree cover loss at a 30 × 30 meter resolution. Note that “tree cover loss” is not the same as “deforestation” – tree cover loss includes change in both natural and planted forest, and does not need to be human caused. The data from 2011 onward were produced with an updated methodology that may capture additional loss. Comparisons between the original 2001-2010 data and future years should be performed with caution.