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

Latest (2025)
-0.2%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
168th
of 228 countries
All-time high
0.1%
in 2011
All-time low
-1.2%
in 2000
Years of data
35
1991–2025

Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area in Western Sahara, 1991–2025

-1-0.501991200820251991: -1.1 %1992: -1.1 %1993: -1.1 %1994: -1.1 %1995: -1.2 %1996: -1.2 %1997: -1.2 %1998: -1.2 %1999: -1.2 %2000: -1.2 %2001: -0.043 %2002: -0.043 %2003: -0.043 %2004: -0.043 %2005: -0.043 %2006: -0.043 %2007: -0.043 %2008: -0.043 %2009: -0.043 %2010: -0.043 %2011: 0.084 %2012: 0.084 %2013: 0.084 %2014: 0.084 %2015: 0.084 %2016: -0.234 %2017: -0.234 %2018: -0.235 %2019: -0.235 %2020: -0.236 %2021: -0.15 %2022: -0.15 %2023: -0.15 %2024: -0.151 %2025: -0.151 %

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 165 Central African Republic -0.1% compare
  2. 166 Venezuela -0.1% compare
  3. 167 Suriname -0.1% compare
  4. 169 Moldova -0.2% compare
  5. 170 Libya -0.2% compare
  6. 171 Senegal -0.2% compare

See the full ranking of 228 places →

More environment data for Western Sahara

All data for Western Sahara →

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

Indicator
Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area
Unit
%
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
228 places, 7,980 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

Annual net change in forest area measures forest expansion (the sum of afforestation and natural expansion) minus deforestation.