Forest area in Western Africa
Western Africa: Forest area was 72,740 ha th in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
72,740 ha th
Rank
26th
of 34 groups
All-time high
99,361 ha th
in 1990
All-time low
72,740 ha th
in 2025
Years of data
6
1990–2025
Forest area in Western Africa, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in ha th.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area in Western Africa is 72,740 ha th, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Western Africa peaked at 99,361 ha th in 1990 and was at its lowest, 72,740 ha th, in 2025.
Western Africa ranks 26th of 34 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Forest area in Western Africa, year by year
| Year | ha th | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 99,361 ha th | — |
| 2000 | 90,336 ha th | -9.1% |
| 2010 | 82,865 ha th | -8.3% |
| 2015 | 78,795 ha th | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 75,650 ha th | -4.0% |
| 2025 | 72,740 ha th | -3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 99,361 ha th | 99,361 ha th | 99,361 ha th | 1 |
| 2000s | 90,336 ha th | 90,336 ha th | 90,336 ha th | 1 |
| 2010s | 80,830 ha th | 78,795 ha th | 82,865 ha th | 2 |
| 2020s | 74,195 ha th | 72,740 ha th | 75,650 ha th | 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)
- Standard Deviation 0.311 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.37 °C (2025)
- Industrial roundwood — Production 20.68 million m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Export quantity 355,916 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import value 18,051 1000 USD (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import quantity 79,324 m3 (2024)
- Wood fuel — Production 221.11 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Western Africa?
- Forest area in Western Africa was 72,740 ha th in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Western Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 99,361 ha th in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Western Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 72,740 ha th in 2025.
- How does Western Africa rank for forest area?
- Western Africa ranks 26th out of 34 groups with data for 2025.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Western Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. 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 (thousands of hectares). 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).