Imported deforestation in Kenya
Kenya: Imported deforestation was 5,105 hectares in 2023. ▲ Rising
Imported deforestation in Kenya, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, imported deforestation in Kenya stood at 5,105 hectares.
The figure is down 13.2% on the previous year and down 32.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in Kenya peaked at 13,304 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2,453 hectares, in 2005.
That places Kenya 47th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Imported deforestation in Kenya, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,453 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 2,663 hectares | +8.6% |
| 2007 | 4,205 hectares | +57.9% |
| 2008 | 5,289 hectares | +25.8% |
| 2009 | 6,335 hectares | +19.8% |
| 2010 | 5,363 hectares | -15.3% |
| 2011 | 10,214 hectares | +90.4% |
| 2012 | 9,114 hectares | -10.8% |
| 2013 | 7,514 hectares | -17.6% |
| 2014 | 8,450 hectares | +12.5% |
| 2015 | 7,540 hectares | -10.8% |
| 2016 | 7,196 hectares | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 11,015 hectares | +53.1% |
| 2018 | 9,866 hectares | -10.4% |
| 2019 | 10,433 hectares | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 9,296 hectares | -10.9% |
| 2021 | 13,304 hectares | +43.1% |
| 2022 | 5,879 hectares | -55.8% |
| 2023 | 5,105 hectares | -13.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 5,105 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2,331 hectares, 2.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 5,105 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,888 hectares, 2.7× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,189 hectares | 2,453 hectares | 6,335 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 8,671 hectares | 5,363 hectares | 11,015 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,396 hectares | 5,105 hectares | 13,304 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More environment data for Kenya
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -8.08 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.73 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.27 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.12 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.25 % 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 2.87 % 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 imported deforestation in Kenya?
- Imported deforestation in Kenya was 5,105 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 13,304 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,453 hectares in 2005.
- How does Kenya rank for imported deforestation?
- Kenya ranks 47th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Imported 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
Imported deforestation is the amount of deforestation in other countries that is driven by the production of food and forestry products that are imported. This is measured in hectares.