Calculating Deforestation Figures for the Amazon

By Rhett A. Butler

April 24, 2018 [Last update: Jan 4, 2020]

Data is updated monthly here.

These figures are calculated from estimates provided by the Brazilian National Institute of Space Research (INPE), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and MapBiomas. The figures only refer to the Brazilian Amazon, which accounts for roughly 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest.

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon for soybeans. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.

According to a study released in September 2009 by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), at least 20 percent land deforested in the Brazilian Amazon is regrowing forest.

Please note: This table is updated when INPE releases PRODES data each November or December (followed by an revision normally in the following March or April). Short-term DETER-based Amazon deforestation data is updated several times a year here and monthly here.

Natural forest in the Brazilian Amazon (Amazonia) by year

Natural forest cover, deforestation, and forest loss in the Brazilian Amazon (Amazonia), 1970-present (All data: square kilometers)

Period Estimated Natural

Forest Cover Deforestation (INPE) Natural forest

cover change Forest cover as

% of pre-1970 cover Total forest loss

since 1970 pre-1970 4,100,000 1970 4,001,600 1977 3,955,870 1985 3,864,945 21,050 1986 3,841,932 21,050 23,014 93.7% 258,068 1987 3,817,544 21,050 24,388 93.1% 282,456 1988 3,799,476 21,050 18,068 92.7% 300,524 1989 3,783,229 17,770 16,247 92.3% 316,771 1990 3,796,288 13,730 -13,059 92.6% 303,712 1991 3,782,368 11,030 13,920 92.3% 317,632 1992 3,760,720 13,786 21,648 91.7% 339,280 1993 3,746,141 14,896 14,579 91.4% 353,859 1994 3,735,463 14,896 10,678 91.1% 364,537 1995 3,708,168 29,059 27,295 90.4% 391,832 1996 3,678,495 18,161 29,673 89.7% 421,505 1997 3,656,208 13,227 22,287 89.2% 443,792 1998 3,648,260 17,383 7,947 89.0% 451,740 1999 3,618,508 17,259 29,752 88.3% 481,492 2000 3,602,205 18,226 16,303 87.9% 497,795 2001 3,592,681 18,165 9,524 87.6% 507,319 2002 3,574,446 21,651 18,235 87.2% 525,554 2003 3,538,765 25,396 35,681 86.3% 561,235 2004 3,519,981 27,772 18,784 85.9% 580,019 2005 3,501,506 19,014 18,474 85.4% 598,494 2006 3,481,143 14,285 20,363 84.9% 618,857 2007 3,448,153 11,651 32,990 84.1% 651,847 2008 3,451,565 12,911 -3,413 84.2% 648,435 2009 3,426,846 7,464 24,720 83.6% 673,154 2010 3,433,519 7,000 -6,673 83.7% 666,481 2011 3,432,446 6,418 1,073 83.7% 667,554 2012 3,432,170 4,571 277 83.7% 667,830 2013 3,430,131 5,891 2,039 83.7% 669,869 2014 3,420,221 5,012 9,909 83.4% 679,779 2015 3,413,662 6,207 6,560 83.3% 686,338 2016 3,406,796 7,893 6,866 83.1% 693,204 2017 3,399,308 6,947 7,487 82.9% 700,692 2018 3,390,835 7,900 8,473 82.7% 709,165 2019 9,762 718,927

Notes: Estimated forest cover : Annual figures after 1985 come from MapBiomas. Prior to 1985, the data comes from several sources.

: Annual figures after 1985 come from MapBiomas. Prior to 1985, the data comes from several sources. Deforestation (INPE) Brazil's National Space Research Institute (INPE) calculates deforestation on an Aug 1-Jul 31 "year" so the annual figures presented in this table do not represent deforestation that occurred on a Jan-Dec basis. This also partly explains the discrepancy between this column and the "Natural forest cover change" column.

Brazil's National Space Research Institute (INPE) calculates deforestation on an Aug 1-Jul 31 "year" so the annual figures presented in this table do not represent deforestation that occurred on a Jan-Dec basis. This also partly explains the discrepancy between this column and the "Natural forest cover change" column. Natural forest cover change : This number reflects the annual difference in MapBiomas data, which is reported on an annual basis, rather than the Aug 1-Jul 31 basis used by INPE. Additionally, unlike INPE data, MapBiomas accounts for forest loss due to fire. A negative number in this column suggests forest recovery or regrowth over the prior year.

: This number reflects the annual difference in MapBiomas data, which is reported on an annual basis, rather than the Aug 1-Jul 31 basis used by INPE. Additionally, unlike INPE data, MapBiomas accounts for forest loss due to fire. A negative number in this column suggests forest recovery or regrowth over the prior year. Forest cover as % of pre-1970 cover: Percentage estimate of how much natural forest remains in the Brazilian Amazon relative to the pre-1970 estimate. ,

Natural forest in the Brazilian Amazon (Amazonia) by year

Annual deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon according to INPE. Note this does not necessarily include forest loss from fires.

Amazon rainforest section contents: