Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Forest area as a proportion of total land area was 28.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area as a proportion of total land area in Sub-Saharan Africa is 28.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area as a proportion of total land area in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 33.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 28.6%, in 2025.
That places Sub-Saharan Africa 18th out of 32 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 33.7% | — |
| 2000 | 32.3% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 30.8% | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 29.9% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 29.2% | -2.2% |
| 2025 | 28.6% | -2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.7% | 33.7% | 33.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 32.3% | 32.3% | 32.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 30.4% | 29.9% | 30.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 28.9% | 28.6% | 29.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More environment data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.36 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.11 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.223 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.21 °C (2025)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 305.43 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Aquaculture production 904,662 metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 2.29 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Transport (Energy) 2.96 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Permanent meadows and pastures — Share in Agricultural land 72.81 % (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area as a proportion of total land area in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Sub-Saharan Africa was 28.6% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 33.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.6% in 2025.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for forest area as a proportion of total land area?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 18th out of 32 groups with data for 2025.
- Is forest area as a proportion of total land area rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Forest area as a proportion of total land area (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).