Agriculture-driven deforestation in Benin
Benin: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 1,374 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Benin, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, agriculture-driven deforestation in Benin stood at 1,374 hectares.
That represents a change of down 46.0% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Benin peaked at 4,792 hectares in 2009 and was at its lowest, 416.27 hectares, in 2008.
That places Benin 71st out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Benin, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3,630 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 3,298 hectares | -9.1% |
| 2003 | 3,332 hectares | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 646.78 hectares | -80.6% |
| 2005 | 1,552 hectares | +139.9% |
| 2006 | 1,675 hectares | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 4,423 hectares | +164.0% |
| 2008 | 416.27 hectares | -90.6% |
| 2009 | 4,792 hectares | +1051.1% |
| 2010 | 482.62 hectares | -89.9% |
| 2011 | 608.12 hectares | +26.0% |
| 2012 | 2,707 hectares | +345.1% |
| 2013 | 1,218 hectares | -55.0% |
| 2014 | 1,296 hectares | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 572.48 hectares | -55.8% |
| 2016 | 1,917 hectares | +234.9% |
| 2017 | 2,200 hectares | +14.8% |
| 2018 | 1,800 hectares | -18.2% |
| 2019 | 756.41 hectares | -58.0% |
| 2020 | 1,585 hectares | +109.6% |
| 2021 | 1,681 hectares | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 1,641 hectares | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 2,546 hectares | +55.2% |
| 2024 | 1,374 hectares | -46.0% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 1,374 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,953 hectares, 70% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Benin's 1,374 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,723 hectares, 37% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agriculture-driven deforestation in Benin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +1051.1% | 416.27 hectares | 4,792 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,640 hectares | 416.27 hectares | 4,792 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 1,356 hectares | 482.62 hectares | 2,707 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,765 hectares | 1,374 hectares | 2,546 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Benin
More environment data for Benin
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -9.6 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -10.11 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.268 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.29 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.38 % 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 2.92 % 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 agriculture-driven deforestation in Benin?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Benin was 1,374 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 4,792 hectares in 2009.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 416.27 hectares in 2008.
- How does Benin rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Benin ranks 71st out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Agriculture-driven deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Long-term, permanent tree cover loss for small- to large-scale agriculture.