Annual deforestation in Namibia
Namibia: Annual deforestation was 3,220 hectares per year in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Annual deforestation in Namibia, 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 Namibia is 3,220 hectares per year, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual deforestation in Namibia peaked at 71,650 hectares per year in 1990 and was at its lowest, 3,220 hectares per year, in 2010.
Namibia ranks 55th of 112 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Annual deforestation in Namibia, year by year
| Year | hectares per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 71,650 hectares per year | — |
| 2000 | 6,450 hectares per year | -91.0% |
| 2010 | 3,220 hectares per year | -50.1% |
| 2015 | 3,230 hectares per year | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 3,220 hectares per year | -0.3% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 3,220 hectares per year is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14,965 hectares per year, 22% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 3,220 hectares per year is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46,520 hectares per year, 7% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71,650 hectares per year | 71,650 hectares per year | 71,650 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2000s | 6,450 hectares per year | 6,450 hectares per year | 6,450 hectares per year | 1 |
| 2010s | 3,225 hectares per year | 3,220 hectares per year | 3,230 hectares per year | 2 |
| 2020s | 3,220 hectares per year | 3,220 hectares per year | 3,220 hectares per year | 1 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
More environment data for Namibia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.99 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.14 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.319 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.979 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.32 % 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 4.07 % 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 Namibia?
- Annual deforestation in Namibia was 3,220 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 71,650 hectares per year in 1990.
- What is the lowest annual deforestation recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,220 hectares per year in 2010.
- How does Namibia rank for annual deforestation?
- Namibia ranks 55th out of 112 countries with data for 2020.
- Is annual deforestation rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Namibia 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.
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