Exported deforestation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Exported deforestation was 679.57 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Exported deforestation in Sierra Leone, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, exported deforestation in Sierra Leone stood at 679.57 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.4% on the previous year and up 210.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, exported deforestation in Sierra Leone peaked at 842.86 hectares in 2022 and was at its lowest, 84.49 hectares, in 2005.
Sierra Leone ranks 55th of 178 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.
Exported deforestation in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 84.49 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 197.45 hectares | +133.7% |
| 2007 | 181.71 hectares | -8.0% |
| 2008 | 169.33 hectares | -6.8% |
| 2009 | 166.4 hectares | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 154.78 hectares | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 150.19 hectares | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 183.86 hectares | +22.4% |
| 2013 | 218.7 hectares | +18.9% |
| 2014 | 414.34 hectares | +89.5% |
| 2015 | 454.21 hectares | +9.6% |
| 2016 | 538.18 hectares | +18.5% |
| 2017 | 597.87 hectares | +11.1% |
| 2018 | 722.52 hectares | +20.8% |
| 2019 | 478.6 hectares | -33.8% |
| 2020 | 474.92 hectares | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 504.25 hectares | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 842.86 hectares | +67.2% |
| 2023 | 679.57 hectares | -19.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 679.57 hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 551.19 hectares, 1.2× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 679.57 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 578.35 hectares, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Exported 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +133.7% | 84.49 hectares | 197.45 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 159.88 hectares | 84.49 hectares | 197.45 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 391.32 hectares | 150.19 hectares | 722.52 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 625.4 hectares | 474.92 hectares | 842.86 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 exported deforestation in Sierra Leone?
- Exported deforestation in Sierra Leone was 679.57 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest exported deforestation recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 842.86 hectares in 2022.
- What is the lowest exported deforestation recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.49 hectares in 2005.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for exported deforestation?
- Sierra Leone ranks 55th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is exported deforestation rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 210.7%. 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 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.