Drivers of deforestation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Drivers of deforestation was 751.37 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Drivers of deforestation in Sierra Leone, 2004–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for drivers of deforestation in Sierra Leone is 751.37 hectares, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 83.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drivers of deforestation in Sierra Leone peaked at 841.83 hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 18.96 hectares, in 2010.
That places Sierra Leone 54th out of 166 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 126.12 hectares | — |
| 2005 | 207.19 hectares | +64.3% |
| 2006 | 833.45 hectares | +302.3% |
| 2009 | 37.92 hectares | -95.5% |
| 2010 | 18.96 hectares | -50.0% |
| 2011 | 832.34 hectares | +4290.0% |
| 2013 | 410.67 hectares | -50.7% |
| 2014 | 603.32 hectares | +46.9% |
| 2015 | 543.98 hectares | -9.8% |
| 2016 | 632.08 hectares | +16.2% |
| 2017 | 342.78 hectares | -45.8% |
| 2018 | 351.64 hectares | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 351.86 hectares | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 841.83 hectares | +139.3% |
| 2021 | 806.49 hectares | -4.2% |
| 2022 | 730.76 hectares | -9.4% |
| 2023 | 751.37 hectares | +2.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 751.37 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 550.07 hectares, 1.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 751.37 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 751.37 hectares, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Drivers of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +4290.0% | 18.96 hectares | 832.34 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 301.17 hectares | 37.92 hectares | 833.45 hectares | 4 |
| 2010s | 454.18 hectares | 18.96 hectares | 832.34 hectares | 9 |
| 2020s | 782.61 hectares | 730.76 hectares | 841.83 hectares | 4 |
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 drivers of deforestation in Sierra Leone?
- Drivers of deforestation in Sierra Leone was 751.37 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drivers of deforestation recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 841.83 hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest drivers of deforestation recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.96 hectares in 2010.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for drivers of deforestation?
- Sierra Leone ranks 54th out of 166 countries with data for 2023.
- Is drivers of deforestation rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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 — 17 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.