Charted: Tropical Forest Loss in 2024

Marcus Lu
2025-06-08 14:48:00
www.visualcapitalist.com

See this visualization first on the Voronoi app.

Charted: Tropical Forest Loss in 2024

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Tropical forest loss almost doubled in the last year of available data, rising from 3.74 million hectares (Mha) lost in 2023 to 6.73 Mha in 2024.

In this graphic, we show the loss of tropical forest cover by country in 2024, based on data from the World Resources Institute.

Wildfires and Agriculture

The primary driver of tropical forest loss in 2024 was wildfires (49.5%), followed by agriculture (29.1%).

Brazil tops the list with 2.82 million hectares lost in 2024, compared to 1.14 million in 2023.

Country	2023 (Mha)	2024 (Mha)
Brazil	1.14	2.82
Bolivia	0.49	1.48
Congo (DRC)	0.53	0.59
Indonesia	0.29	0.26
Peru	0.15	0.19
Laos	0.14	0.12
Colombia	0.07	0.10
Cameroon	0.10	0.10
Nicaragua	0.06	0.09
Mexico	0.05	0.09
Other countries	0.73	0.89
Total	3.74	6.73

Despite efforts by Brazil’s federal government, including police and military operations, the Brazilian Amazon continues to suffer from illegal exploitation for cattle ranching, agriculture, and gold mining. To make space for these illegal activities, criminals often set fires. Wildfires alone have driven a 150% increase in Brazil’s annual forest loss in 2024.

After Brazil, Bolivia—another country with vast Amazonian forests—ranks second, with 1.48 million hectares lost in 2024.

Why Tropical Forests Are Important

Tropical forests are vital to the planet’s health. They store massive amounts of carbon, helping regulate the global climate and mitigate climate change.

Additionally, they provide fresh water, prevent soil erosion, and support the livelihoods of over a billion people. As highlighted by the World Resources Institute, their destruction threatens ecosystems, accelerates global warming, and undermines indigenous communities.

Tropical forests are home to over half of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, supporting countless plant, animal, and insect species. The Amazon forest alone produces 20% of the world’s oxygen, earning it the nickname “the lungs of the planet.” It is also home to over 10% of all known species.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

If you enjoyed this graphic, make sure to check out Visualized: Share of World Carbon Emissions by Country, that breaks down the share of global carbon emissions by country, categorized into income groups.

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