Tree Cover Loss in India
India: Tree Cover Loss was 118,595 hectares in 2025. ▲ Rising
Tree Cover Loss in India, 2001–2025
Source: Global Forest Watch. Tree Cover Loss (Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA). Measured in hectares.
Analysis
India recorded 118,595 hectares for tree cover loss in 2025.
The figure is down 5.9% on the previous year and up 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in India peaked at 179,260 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 43,831 hectares, in 2003.
India ranks 29th of 190 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Tree Cover Loss in India, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 56,792 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 47,839 hectares | -15.8% |
| 2003 | 43,831 hectares | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 66,411 hectares | +51.5% |
| 2005 | 56,419 hectares | -15.0% |
| 2006 | 61,012 hectares | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 67,731 hectares | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 78,641 hectares | +16.1% |
| 2009 | 74,155 hectares | -5.7% |
| 2010 | 47,442 hectares | -36.0% |
| 2011 | 83,415 hectares | +75.8% |
| 2012 | 88,012 hectares | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 75,407 hectares | -14.3% |
| 2014 | 132,072 hectares | +75.1% |
| 2015 | 109,678 hectares | -17.0% |
| 2016 | 164,151 hectares | +49.7% |
| 2017 | 179,260 hectares | +9.2% |
| 2018 | 125,295 hectares | -30.1% |
| 2019 | 115,904 hectares | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 130,855 hectares | +12.9% |
| 2021 | 125,753 hectares | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 114,224 hectares | -9.2% |
| 2023 | 136,713 hectares | +19.7% |
| 2024 | 126,044 hectares | -7.8% |
| 2025 | 118,595 hectares | -5.9% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 118,595 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4,562 hectares, 26.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 118,595 hectares is above the median for South Asia, which is 8,311 hectares, 14.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 61,426 hectares | 43,831 hectares | 78,641 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 112,064 hectares | 47,442 hectares | 179,260 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 125,364 hectares | 114,224 hectares | 136,713 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More agriculture & rural data for India
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1623 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 438.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4067 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6431 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 16.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 16.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in India?
- Tree cover loss in India was 118,595 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 179,260 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 43,831 hectares in 2003.
- How does India rank for tree cover loss?
- India ranks 29th out of 190 countries with data for 2025.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.