Tree Cover Loss in Madagascar
Madagascar: Tree Cover Loss was 262,864 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Tree Cover Loss in Madagascar, 2001–2025
Source: Global Forest Watch. Tree Cover Loss (Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA). Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2025, tree cover loss in Madagascar stood at 262,864 hectares.
The figure is up 13.7% on the previous year and down 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Madagascar peaked at 510,357 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 71,034 hectares, in 2006.
Madagascar ranks 14th of 190 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree Cover Loss in Madagascar, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 86,957 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 89,318 hectares | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 84,248 hectares | -5.7% |
| 2004 | 81,845 hectares | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 93,628 hectares | +14.4% |
| 2006 | 71,034 hectares | -24.1% |
| 2007 | 188,580 hectares | +165.5% |
| 2008 | 123,502 hectares | -34.5% |
| 2009 | 136,537 hectares | +10.6% |
| 2010 | 107,219 hectares | -21.5% |
| 2011 | 162,323 hectares | +51.4% |
| 2012 | 128,468 hectares | -20.9% |
| 2013 | 299,350 hectares | +133.0% |
| 2014 | 416,682 hectares | +39.2% |
| 2015 | 301,789 hectares | -27.6% |
| 2016 | 383,656 hectares | +27.1% |
| 2017 | 510,357 hectares | +33.0% |
| 2018 | 366,620 hectares | -28.2% |
| 2019 | 254,243 hectares | -30.7% |
| 2020 | 241,112 hectares | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 234,880 hectares | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 256,380 hectares | +9.2% |
| 2023 | 303,191 hectares | +18.3% |
| 2024 | 231,219 hectares | -23.7% |
| 2025 | 262,864 hectares | +13.7% |
Madagascar compared with similar countries
- Madagascar's 262,864 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 8,372 hectares, 31.4× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Madagascar's 262,864 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 8,252 hectares, 31.9× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 106,183 hectares | 71,034 hectares | 188,580 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 293,071 hectares | 107,219 hectares | 510,357 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 254,941 hectares | 231,219 hectares | 303,191 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Madagascar
More agriculture & rural data for Madagascar
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.42 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.217 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 130.06 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.72 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0011 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.671 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 21.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 21.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Madagascar?
- Tree cover loss in Madagascar was 262,864 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 Madagascar?
- The highest recorded value was 510,357 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Madagascar?
- The lowest recorded value was 71,034 hectares in 2006.
- How does Madagascar rank for tree cover loss?
- Madagascar ranks 14th out of 190 countries with data for 2025.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Madagascar?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Madagascar 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.