Agriculture-driven deforestation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Agriculture-driven deforestation was 16,830 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Sierra Leone, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 16,830 hectares for agriculture-driven deforestation in 2024.
That represents a change of up 27.8% on the previous year and down 37.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agriculture-driven deforestation in Sierra Leone peaked at 31,856 hectares in 2015 and was at its lowest, 927.49 hectares, in 2004.
That places Sierra Leone 39th out of 187 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Agriculture-driven deforestation in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4,009 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 3,151 hectares | -21.4% |
| 2003 | 2,290 hectares | -27.3% |
| 2004 | 927.49 hectares | -59.5% |
| 2005 | 2,164 hectares | +133.3% |
| 2006 | 6,060 hectares | +180.0% |
| 2007 | 4,933 hectares | -18.6% |
| 2008 | 4,298 hectares | -12.9% |
| 2009 | 6,135 hectares | +42.7% |
| 2010 | 1,980 hectares | -67.7% |
| 2011 | 8,306 hectares | +319.4% |
| 2012 | 4,277 hectares | -48.5% |
| 2013 | 28,333 hectares | +562.4% |
| 2014 | 26,798 hectares | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 31,856 hectares | +18.9% |
| 2016 | 19,557 hectares | -38.6% |
| 2017 | 27,718 hectares | +41.7% |
| 2018 | 22,602 hectares | -18.5% |
| 2019 | 20,986 hectares | -7.1% |
| 2020 | 19,215 hectares | -8.4% |
| 2021 | 13,586 hectares | -29.3% |
| 2022 | 12,502 hectares | -8.0% |
| 2023 | 13,168 hectares | +5.3% |
| 2024 | 16,830 hectares | +27.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 16,830 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 2,362 hectares, 7.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 16,830 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3,723 hectares, 4.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agriculture-driven deforestation in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +562.4% | 4,277 hectares | 28,333 hectares |
| 2011 | +319.4% | 1,980 hectares | 8,306 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,774 hectares | 927.49 hectares | 6,135 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 19,241 hectares | 1,980 hectares | 31,856 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 15,060 hectares | 12,502 hectares | 19,215 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More environment data for Sierra Leone
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.4 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.39 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.232 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.28 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.72 % 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 1.11 % 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 Sierra Leone?
- Agriculture-driven deforestation in Sierra Leone was 16,830 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 31,856 hectares in 2015.
- What is the lowest agriculture-driven deforestation recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 927.49 hectares in 2004.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for agriculture-driven deforestation?
- Sierra Leone ranks 39th out of 187 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agriculture-driven deforestation rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.