Deforestation embedded in trade in Ghana
Ghana: Deforestation embedded in trade was -19,081 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Deforestation embedded in trade in Ghana, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for deforestation embedded in trade in Ghana is -19,081 hectares, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 23.3% on the previous year and down 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, deforestation embedded in trade in Ghana peaked at -9,096 hectares in 2006 and was at its lowest, -56,880 hectares, in 2018.
Ghana ranks 170th of 178 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Deforestation embedded in trade in Ghana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | -17,128 hectares | — |
| 2006 | -9,096 hectares | -46.9% |
| 2007 | -12,858 hectares | +41.4% |
| 2008 | -13,113 hectares | +2.0% |
| 2009 | -14,760 hectares | +12.6% |
| 2010 | -10,490 hectares | -28.9% |
| 2011 | -9,694 hectares | -7.6% |
| 2012 | -12,647 hectares | +30.5% |
| 2013 | -16,629 hectares | +31.5% |
| 2014 | -19,022 hectares | +14.4% |
| 2015 | -23,623 hectares | +24.2% |
| 2016 | -40,014 hectares | +69.4% |
| 2017 | -45,169 hectares | +12.9% |
| 2018 | -56,880 hectares | +25.9% |
| 2019 | -44,027 hectares | -22.6% |
| 2020 | -22,247 hectares | -49.5% |
| 2021 | -28,546 hectares | +28.3% |
| 2022 | -24,862 hectares | -12.9% |
| 2023 | -19,081 hectares | -23.3% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's -19,081 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 966.34 hectares. (45 countries reporting)
- Ghana's -19,081 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 315.58 hectares. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | -13,391 hectares | -17,128 hectares | -9,096 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | -27,819 hectares | -56,880 hectares | -9,694 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | -23,684 hectares | -28,546 hectares | -19,081 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More environment data for Ghana
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -13.57 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -11.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.26 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.34 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.72 % 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 0.8796 % 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 deforestation embedded in trade in Ghana?
- Deforestation embedded in trade in Ghana was -19,081 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was -9,096 hectares in 2006.
- What is the lowest deforestation embedded in trade recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was -56,880 hectares in 2018.
- How does Ghana rank for deforestation embedded in trade?
- Ghana ranks 170th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is deforestation embedded in trade rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Deforestation embedded in trade. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Deforestation driven by imported goods minus exported goods from agriculture and forest plantations. Net importers of deforestation are countries who contribute to net deforestation in other countries – the deforestation that they cause in other countries is given as a positive value.