Drivers of deforestation in Gambia
Gambia: Drivers of deforestation was 0.33 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Gambia, 2009–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, drivers of deforestation in Gambia stood at 0.33 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 84.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Gambia peaked at 6.15 hectares in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.07 hectares, in 2009.
Gambia ranks 149th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Gambia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0.07 hectares | — |
| 2010 | 2.95 hectares | +4114.3% |
| 2011 | 4.04 hectares | +36.9% |
| 2012 | 2.56 hectares | -36.6% |
| 2013 | 2.16 hectares | -15.6% |
| 2014 | 6.15 hectares | +184.7% |
| 2015 | 3.29 hectares | -46.5% |
| 2016 | 2.17 hectares | -34.0% |
| 2017 | 0.46 hectares | -78.8% |
| 2018 | 0.63 hectares | +37.0% |
| 2019 | 1.33 hectares | +111.1% |
| 2020 | 0.52 hectares | -60.9% |
| 2021 | 0.24 hectares | -53.8% |
| 2022 | 0.33 hectares | +37.5% |
| 2023 | 0.33 hectares | +0.0% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 0.33 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 550.07 hectares, 0% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 0.33 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 751.37 hectares, 0% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of deforestation in Gambia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +4114.3% | 0.07 hectares | 2.95 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.07 hectares | 0.07 hectares | 0.07 hectares | 1 |
| 2010s | 2.57 hectares | 0.46 hectares | 6.15 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.355 hectares | 0.24 hectares | 0.52 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 146 Lesotho 0.54 hectares compare
- 147 Afghanistan 0.4 hectares compare
- 148 Dominica 0.36 hectares compare
- 150 Syria 0.21 hectares compare
- 151 Saint Lucia 0.2 hectares compare
- 152 Turkmenistan 0.18 hectares compare
More environment data for Gambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.15 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.18 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.366 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.36 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9281 % 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 -1.52 % 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 drivers of deforestation in Gambia?
- Drivers of deforestation in Gambia was 0.33 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.15 hectares in 2014.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.07 hectares in 2009.
- How does Gambia rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Gambia ranks 149th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 84.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Drivers of deforestation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimates of commodity-driven deforestation, measured in hectares per year. This includes deforestation caused by the production of agricultural products and forestry, which account for approximately 90% of the world's deforestation.