Drivers of deforestation in Liberia
Liberia: Drivers of deforestation was 1,583 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Liberia, 2001–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for drivers of deforestation in Liberia is 1,583 hectares, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.5% on the previous year and down 95.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Liberia peaked at 35,798 hectares in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1,459 hectares, in 2022.
Liberia ranks 46th of 166 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Drivers of deforestation in Liberia, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 24,302 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 30,958 hectares | +27.4% |
| 2003 | 18,670 hectares | -39.7% |
| 2004 | 5,495 hectares | -70.6% |
| 2005 | 8,258 hectares | +50.3% |
| 2006 | 18,818 hectares | +127.9% |
| 2007 | 16,093 hectares | -14.5% |
| 2008 | 4,981 hectares | -69.0% |
| 2009 | 10,168 hectares | +104.1% |
| 2010 | 7,912 hectares | -22.2% |
| 2011 | 27,782 hectares | +251.1% |
| 2012 | 35,141 hectares | +26.5% |
| 2013 | 35,013 hectares | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 35,798 hectares | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 32,217 hectares | -10.0% |
| 2016 | 28,147 hectares | -12.6% |
| 2017 | 17,234 hectares | -38.8% |
| 2018 | 7,374 hectares | -57.2% |
| 2019 | 1,628 hectares | -77.9% |
| 2020 | 1,775 hectares | +9.0% |
| 2021 | 1,515 hectares | -14.7% |
| 2022 | 1,459 hectares | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 1,583 hectares | +8.5% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 1,583 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 550.07 hectares, 2.9× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 1,583 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 751.37 hectares, 2.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15,305 hectares | 4,981 hectares | 30,958 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 22,825 hectares | 1,628 hectares | 35,798 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,583 hectares | 1,459 hectares | 1,775 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More environment data for Liberia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.21 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.28 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.221 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.42 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 1.07 % 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 0.261 % 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 Liberia?
- Drivers of deforestation in Liberia was 1,583 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 35,798 hectares in 2014.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,459 hectares in 2022.
- How does Liberia rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Liberia ranks 46th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 95.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Liberia 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 — 23 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.