Imported deforestation in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Imported deforestation was 989.15 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Imported deforestation in Sierra Leone, 2005–2023
Source: Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 989.15 hectares for imported deforestation in 2023.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imported deforestation in Sierra Leone peaked at 2,635 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 247.73 hectares, in 2006.
That places Sierra Leone 139th out of 178 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Imported deforestation in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 293.94 hectares | — |
| 2006 | 247.73 hectares | -15.7% |
| 2007 | 398.98 hectares | +61.1% |
| 2008 | 462.79 hectares | +16.0% |
| 2009 | 337.18 hectares | -27.1% |
| 2010 | 665.5 hectares | +97.4% |
| 2011 | 1,278 hectares | +92.0% |
| 2012 | 1,143 hectares | -10.5% |
| 2013 | 824.88 hectares | -27.8% |
| 2014 | 1,166 hectares | +41.3% |
| 2015 | 1,279 hectares | +9.7% |
| 2016 | 1,581 hectares | +23.6% |
| 2017 | 1,767 hectares | +11.8% |
| 2018 | 1,157 hectares | -34.5% |
| 2019 | 2,149 hectares | +85.8% |
| 2020 | 2,187 hectares | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 2,635 hectares | +20.5% |
| 2022 | 962.68 hectares | -63.5% |
| 2023 | 989.15 hectares | +2.7% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 989.15 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 1,701 hectares, 58% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 989.15 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,888 hectares, 52% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 348.12 hectares | 247.73 hectares | 462.79 hectares | 5 |
| 2010s | 1,301 hectares | 665.5 hectares | 2,149 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,693 hectares | 962.68 hectares | 2,635 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 imported deforestation in Sierra Leone?
- Imported deforestation in Sierra Leone was 989.15 hectares in 2023, according to Singh et al. (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest imported deforestation recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 2,635 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest imported deforestation recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 247.73 hectares in 2006.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for imported deforestation?
- Sierra Leone ranks 139th out of 178 countries with data for 2023.
- Is imported deforestation rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.9%. 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 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.