Agriculture-driven deforestation in Kenya
Kenya: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 9,634 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Kenya, 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 Kenya stood at 9,634 hectares.
That represents a change of up 19.0% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Kenya peaked at 20,332 hectares in 2007 and was at its lowest, 4,842 hectares, in 2022.
That places Kenya 47th out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Kenya, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 14,901 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 14,982 hectares | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 9,908 hectares | -33.9% |
| 2004 | 14,292 hectares | +44.2% |
| 2005 | 10,483 hectares | -26.7% |
| 2006 | 16,714 hectares | +59.4% |
| 2007 | 20,332 hectares | +21.6% |
| 2008 | 15,193 hectares | -25.3% |
| 2009 | 14,940 hectares | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 19,158 hectares | +28.2% |
| 2011 | 13,367 hectares | -30.2% |
| 2012 | 12,778 hectares | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 8,680 hectares | -32.1% |
| 2014 | 10,071 hectares | +16.0% |
| 2015 | 9,561 hectares | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 12,106 hectares | +26.6% |
| 2017 | 15,110 hectares | +24.8% |
| 2018 | 11,296 hectares | -25.2% |
| 2019 | 11,341 hectares | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 12,766 hectares | +12.6% |
| 2021 | 6,112 hectares | -52.1% |
| 2022 | 4,842 hectares | -20.8% |
| 2023 | 8,098 hectares | +67.2% |
| 2024 | 9,634 hectares | +19.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 9,634 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,953 hectares, 4.9× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 9,634 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,723 hectares, 2.6× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14,638 hectares | 9,908 hectares | 20,332 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 12,347 hectares | 8,680 hectares | 19,158 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,290 hectares | 4,842 hectares | 12,766 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More environment data for Kenya
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -8.08 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.27 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.12 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.25 % 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 2.87 % 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 Kenya?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Kenya was 9,634 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 20,332 hectares in 2007.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,842 hectares in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Kenya ranks 47th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.