Tree Cover Loss in Nepal
Nepal: Tree Cover Loss was 2,964 hectares in 2025. ▼ Falling
Tree Cover Loss in Nepal, 2001–2025
Source: Global Forest Watch. Tree Cover Loss (Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA). Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tree cover loss in Nepal is 2,964 hectares, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.6% on the previous year and up 411.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Nepal peaked at 5,524 hectares in 2009 and was at its lowest, 579 hectares, in 2015.
That places Nepal 110th out of 190 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Tree Cover Loss in Nepal, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,523 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 2,129 hectares | +39.8% |
| 2003 | 2,292 hectares | +7.7% |
| 2004 | 2,480 hectares | +8.2% |
| 2005 | 2,758 hectares | +11.2% |
| 2006 | 3,255 hectares | +18.0% |
| 2007 | 3,466 hectares | +6.5% |
| 2008 | 2,992 hectares | -13.7% |
| 2009 | 5,524 hectares | +84.6% |
| 2010 | 2,348 hectares | -57.5% |
| 2011 | 2,816 hectares | +19.9% |
| 2012 | 5,045 hectares | +79.2% |
| 2013 | 835 hectares | -83.4% |
| 2014 | 1,162 hectares | +39.2% |
| 2015 | 579 hectares | -50.2% |
| 2016 | 999 hectares | +72.5% |
| 2017 | 2,394 hectares | +139.6% |
| 2018 | 1,672 hectares | -30.2% |
| 2019 | 2,087 hectares | +24.8% |
| 2020 | 2,233 hectares | +7.0% |
| 2021 | 2,753 hectares | +23.3% |
| 2022 | 2,022 hectares | -26.6% |
| 2023 | 2,277 hectares | +12.6% |
| 2024 | 2,679 hectares | +17.7% |
| 2025 | 2,964 hectares | +10.6% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 2,964 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4,562 hectares, 65% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 2,964 hectares is below the median for South Asia, which is 8,311 hectares, 36% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,935 hectares | 1,523 hectares | 5,524 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 1,994 hectares | 579 hectares | 5,045 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,488 hectares | 2,022 hectares | 2,964 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More agriculture & rural data for Nepal
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2156 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 331.1 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.7937 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.33 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 21.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 21.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Nepal?
- Tree cover loss in Nepal was 2,964 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 5,524 hectares in 2009.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 579 hectares in 2015.
- How does Nepal rank for tree cover loss?
- Nepal ranks 110th out of 190 countries with data for 2025.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 411.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Nepal 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.