Annual deforestation in Cameroon
Cameroon: Annual deforestation was 118,960 hectares per year in 2020. ▲ Rising
Latest (2020)
118,960 hectares per year
World rank
15th
of 112 countries
All-time high
180,500 hectares per year
in 2015
All-time low
58,000 hectares per year
in 2010
Years of data
5
1990–2020
Annual deforestation in Cameroon, 1990–2020
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares per year.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual deforestation in Cameroon is 118,960 hectares per year, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 105.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Cameroon peaked at 180,500 hectares per year in 2015 and was at its lowest, 58,000 hectares per year, in 2010.
Cameroon ranks 15th of 112 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Annual deforestation in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 90,550 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 71,700 hectares per year | -20.8% |
| 2010 | 58,000 hectares per year | -19.1% |
| 2015 | 180,500 hectares per year | +211.2% |
| 2020 | 118,960 hectares per year | -34.1% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 118,960 hectares per year is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14,965 hectares per year, 7.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 118,960 hectares per year is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46,520 hectares per year, 2.6× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 90,550 hectares per year | 90,550 hectares per year | 90,550 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 71,700 hectares per year | 71,700 hectares per year | 71,700 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 119,250 hectares per year | 58,000 hectares per year | 180,500 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 118,960 hectares per year | 118,960 hectares per year | 118,960 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
More environment data for Cameroon
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -8.11 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.68 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.211 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.15 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.6539 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.4385 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual deforestation in Cameroon?
- Annual deforestation in Cameroon was 118,960 hectares per year in 2020, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual deforestation recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 180,500 hectares per year in 2015.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 58,000 hectares per year in 2010.
- How does Cameroon rank for annual deforestation?
- Cameroon ranks 15th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 105.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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