Agriculture-driven deforestation in Cameroon
Cameroon: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 65,591 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
65,591 hectares
Change on year
down 24.1%
World rank
25th
of 187 countries
All-time high
86,430 hectares
in 2023
All-time low
10,934 hectares
in 2003
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Cameroon, 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 Cameroon stood at 65,591 hectares.
That represents a change of down 24.1% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Cameroon peaked at 86,430 hectares in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10,934 hectares, in 2003.
Cameroon ranks 25th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 19,669 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 13,636 hectares | -30.7% |
| 2003 | 10,934 hectares | -19.8% |
| 2004 | 11,679 hectares | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 11,438 hectares | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 17,632 hectares | +54.1% |
| 2007 | 25,862 hectares | +46.7% |
| 2008 | 16,220 hectares | -37.3% |
| 2009 | 14,410 hectares | -11.2% |
| 2010 | 36,043 hectares | +150.1% |
| 2011 | 15,413 hectares | -57.2% |
| 2012 | 26,024 hectares | +68.8% |
| 2013 | 35,586 hectares | +36.7% |
| 2014 | 61,635 hectares | +73.2% |
| 2015 | 33,304 hectares | -46.0% |
| 2016 | 39,587 hectares | +18.9% |
| 2017 | 77,871 hectares | +96.7% |
| 2018 | 47,625 hectares | -38.8% |
| 2019 | 46,543 hectares | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 57,044 hectares | +22.6% |
| 2021 | 71,970 hectares | +26.2% |
| 2022 | 60,716 hectares | -15.6% |
| 2023 | 86,430 hectares | +42.4% |
| 2024 | 65,591 hectares | -24.1% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 65,591 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,953 hectares, 33.6× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 65,591 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,723 hectares, 17.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15,720 hectares | 10,934 hectares | 25,862 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 41,963 hectares | 15,413 hectares | 77,871 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 68,350 hectares | 57,044 hectares | 86,430 hectares | 5 |
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 agriculture-driven deforestation in Cameroon?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Cameroon was 65,591 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 86,430 hectares in 2023.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,934 hectares in 2003.
- How does Cameroon rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Cameroon ranks 25th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.