Colombia: environment

How much forest does Colombia lose each year?

Colombia lost 119,483 hectares of forest in 2025, 5.2% more than the 113,608 hectares of 2024, according to IDEAM's forest and deforestation monitoring summary for 2025. IDEAM calls this the official deforestation figure for the country.

The 2025 figure is 18.1% below the 25-year average of 145,802 hectares a year. Total deforestation from 2001 to 2025 was 3,610,258 hectares. IDEAM also publishes quarterly early-warning bulletins, which are estimates and do not replace the annual figure. Reports are listed on IDEAM's monitoring page.

Official sources: IDEAM: forest and deforestation monitoring 2025 · IDEAM: annual forest monitoring report

How much of Colombia is covered by forest?

Natural forest covered 58,909,867 hectares in 2025, 51.6% of Colombia's continental and island territory, according to IDEAM's forest and deforestation monitoring summary for 2025.

IDEAM says Colombia remains one of the twelve countries with the most forest cover, holding about 1.4% of the world's forest. The figure covers natural forest only, not plantations, and is measured from satellite imagery by IDEAM's forest and carbon monitoring system.

Official sources: IDEAM: forest and deforestation monitoring 2025

What are Colombia's greenhouse gas emissions?

Colombia's net greenhouse gas emissions were 276,732.8 thousand tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024, with total emissions of 297,058.7 kt and removals of 20,325.9 kt, according to IDEAM's national inventory announcement. Net emissions were 23% higher than in 1990.

IDEAM says the energy sector overtook land use, land-use change and forestry as the largest source of emissions for the first time since 2022. The inventory covers 1990 to 2024 and gives figures by department and municipality.

Official sources: IDEAM: national emissions inventory 1990-2024

Where does Colombia's electricity come from?

Hydropower produced 74.56% of centrally dispatched electricity in Colombia in 2025, thermal plants 11.97% and solar 3.18%, according to XM's 2025 annual operation and market report. Total generation in the national grid was 84,412.31 GWh, 1.38% more than in 2024.

XM says renewable generation rose 25.27% and non-renewable generation fell 56.11% because reservoir inflows were high in 2025. In 2024, a drier year, thermal plants supplied 28.30%.

Official sources: XM: 2025 operation and market report

What is the air quality like in Colombia?

The average person in Colombia was exposed to 18.4 micrograms of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) per cubic metre in 2023, according to the World Bank's air pollution data.

The figure is a modelled national average. Real-time readings for cities are published by local environmental authorities; in Bogotá the Secretaría Distrital de Ambiente publishes the IBOCA air quality index on its IBOCA site.

Official sources: World Bank: PM2.5 exposure, Colombia · Bogotá IBOCA air quality index

What are Colombia's CO2 emissions per person?

1.8 tonnes: that is carbon dioxide emissions per person in Colombia for 2024, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. Since 2005 it has ranged from 1.4 tonnes (2006) to 1.9 tonnes (2016). It is 21st highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 2.3 tonnes. Worldwide: 107th of 186.

What are Colombia's emissions?

In 2024, total greenhouse gas emissions in Colombia was 218 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 19.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and Colombia placed 4th highest of 33. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 36th highest.

What share of Colombia's energy comes from renewables?

The latest figure from the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO, for 2021, is 29.7%. The peak was 32.2% in 2017 and the low 28.9% in 2005. It is 11th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 18.9%. Worldwide: 80th of 191.

What is Colombia's forest cover?

The FAO puts forest area as a share of land in Colombia at 53.7% in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 50.6%, and Colombia placed 11th highest of 32. Worldwide: 42nd of 190.

How polluted is the air in Colombia?

According to the Global Burden of Disease study, average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Colombia was 18.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 24.6 micrograms per cubic metre; its low point was 2021, at 16.7 micrograms per cubic metre. Latin America & Caribbean median: 15.7 micrograms per cubic metre; Colombia is 11th highest of 33. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 97th highest.

What share of Colombia is protected land?

The UN Environment Programme puts the share of land in protected areas in Colombia at 17.2% in 2025. Its high point since 2013 was 2014, at 23.2%; its low point was 2015, at 13.9%. Latin America & Caribbean median: 20.1%; Colombia is 20th highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 98th of 192.

What is water stress in Colombia?

According to the FAO, water stress in Colombia was 3.6% in 2022. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 25th highest of 32 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 7.7%. Worldwide: 132nd of 175.