Exported deforestation in Ghana
Ghana: Exported deforestation was 23,815 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Exported deforestation in Ghana, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 23,815 hectares for exported deforestation in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.9% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exported deforestation in Ghana peaked at 61,654 hectares in 2018 and was at its lowest, 11,530 hectares, in 2006.
That places Ghana 14th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Exported deforestation in Ghana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 19,633 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 11,530 hectares | -41.3% |
| 2007 | 15,450 hectares | +34.0% |
| 2008 | 15,766 hectares | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 17,124 hectares | +8.6% |
| 2010 | 13,363 hectares | -22.0% |
| 2011 | 12,678 hectares | -5.1% |
| 2012 | 16,191 hectares | +27.7% |
| 2013 | 20,904 hectares | +29.1% |
| 2014 | 23,012 hectares | +10.1% |
| 2015 | 27,956 hectares | +21.5% |
| 2016 | 44,182 hectares | +58.0% |
| 2017 | 50,064 hectares | +13.3% |
| 2018 | 61,654 hectares | +23.1% |
| 2019 | 48,957 hectares | -20.6% |
| 2020 | 25,816 hectares | -47.3% |
| 2021 | 33,198 hectares | +28.6% |
| 2022 | 29,381 hectares | -11.5% |
| 2023 | 23,815 hectares | -18.9% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 23,815 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 183.42 hectares, 129.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 23,815 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 578.35 hectares, 41.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 15,901 hectares | 11,530 hectares | 19,633 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 31,896 hectares | 12,678 hectares | 61,654 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 28,052 hectares | 23,815 hectares | 33,198 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 exported deforestation in Ghana?
- Exported deforestation in Ghana was 23,815 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exported deforestation recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 61,654 hectares in 2018.
- What is the lowest exported deforestation recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 11,530 hectares in 2006.
- How does Ghana rank for exported deforestation?
- Ghana ranks 14th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exported deforestation rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. 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 Exported deforestation. 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
Exported deforestation is the amount of annual deforestation that is driven by the production of food and forestry products that are exported for consumption in other countries. This is measured in hectares.