Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Western Africa
Western Africa: Forest area as a proportion of total land area was 12.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Western 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 Western Africa is 12.0%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area as a proportion of total land area in Western Africa peaked at 16.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 2025.
That places Western Africa 26th out of 32 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Western Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.4% | — |
| 2000 | 14.9% | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 13.7% | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 13.0% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 12.5% | -3.9% |
| 2025 | 12.0% | -3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.4% | 16.4% | 16.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 14.9% | 14.9% | 14.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 13.3% | 13.0% | 13.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 12.0% | 12.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Western Africa
More environment data for Western Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -6.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.59 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.37 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.311 °C (2025)
- Wood fuel — Production 221.11 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 51,000 m3 (2024)
- Wood fuel, coniferous — Production 0 m3 (2024)
- Wood fuel, non-coniferous — Production 221.11 million m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Production 20.68 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area as a proportion of total land area in Western Africa?
- Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Western Africa was 12.0% 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 Western Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 16.4% in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 2025.
- How does Western Africa rank for forest area as a proportion of total land area?
- Western Africa ranks 26th out of 32 groups with data for 2025.
- Is forest area as a proportion of total land area rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Western 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).