Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area in Western Sahara
Western Sahara: Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area was -0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area in Western Sahara, 1991–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, annual change in forest area as a share of forest area in Western Sahara stood at -0.2%.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 279.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in forest area as a share of forest area in Western Sahara peaked at 0.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -1.2%, in 2000.
Western Sahara ranks 168th of 228 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area in Western Sahara, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | -1.1% | — |
| 1992 | -1.1% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | -1.1% | +1.1% |
| 1994 | -1.1% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | -1.2% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | -1.2% | +1.2% |
| 1997 | -1.2% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | -1.2% | +1.2% |
| 1999 | -1.2% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | -1.2% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | -0.0% | -96.5% |
| 2002 | -0.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.0% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.0% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.0% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.0% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | -0.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | -0.0% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | -0.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -296.4% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | -0.2% | -377.7% |
| 2017 | -0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | -0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | -0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | -0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | -0.1% | -36.5% |
| 2022 | -0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | -0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | -0.2% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | -0.2% | +0.2% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area in Western Sahara changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | -377.7% | 0.1% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | +296.4% | -0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2001 | +96.5% | -1.2% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | +36.5% | -0.2% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -1.2% | -1.2% | -1.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | -0.2% | -1.2% | -0.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.1% | -0.2% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.2% | -0.2% | -0.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Western Sahara
More environment data for Western Sahara
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -62.29 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.89 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.503 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -21.2 Percentage change (2025)
- Land area — Area 26,600 1000 ha (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -52.95 Percentage change (2024)
- Country area — Area 26,600 1000 ha (2024)
- Pesticides (total) — Export value 37.78 1000 USD (2024)
- Pesticides (total) — Import value 62.35 1000 USD (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in forest area as a share of forest area in Western Sahara?
- Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area in Western Sahara was -0.2% in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in forest area as a share of forest area recorded in Western Sahara?
- The highest recorded value was 0.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest annual change in forest area as a share of forest area recorded in Western Sahara?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.2% in 2000.
- How does Western Sahara rank for annual change in forest area as a share of forest area?
- Western Sahara ranks 168th out of 228 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in forest area as a share of forest area rising or falling in Western Sahara?
- Over the last ten years it is down 279.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Western Sahara 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 change in forest area as a share of forest area. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual net change in forest area measures forest expansion (the sum of afforestation and natural expansion) minus deforestation.