Land use in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Land use was 1.75 million hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.75 million hectares
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
96th
of 224 countries
All-time high
1.83 million hectares
in 2006
All-time low
410,000 hectares
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Land use in Sierra Leone, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, land use in Sierra Leone stood at 1.75 million hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use in Sierra Leone peaked at 1.83 million hectares in 2006 and was at its lowest, 410,000 hectares, in 1961.
That places Sierra Leone 96th out of 224 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land use in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 410,000 hectares | — |
| 1962 | 415,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 420,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 425,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 430,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 435,000 hectares | +1.2% |
| 1967 | 440,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 450,000 hectares | +2.3% |
| 1969 | 455,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1970 | 460,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 465,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 470,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 475,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 480,000 hectares | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 485,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 490,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 495,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 505,000 hectares | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 515,000 hectares | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 520,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 525,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 540,000 hectares | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 545,000 hectares | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 560,000 hectares | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 610,000 hectares | +8.9% |
| 1986 | 615,000 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 620,000 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 621,000 hectares | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 621,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 621,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 621,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 611,000 hectares | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 611,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 610,000 hectares | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 610,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 610,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 609,000 hectares | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 609,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 604,000 hectares | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 610,000 hectares | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 801,520 hectares | +31.4% |
| 2002 | 1.03 million hectares | +28.5% |
| 2003 | 1.37 million hectares | +32.7% |
| 2004 | 1.57 million hectares | +15.1% |
| 2005 | 1.61 million hectares | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 1.83 million hectares | +13.5% |
| 2007 | 1.42 million hectares | -22.2% |
| 2008 | 1.51 million hectares | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 1.60 million hectares | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 1.73 million hectares | +8.1% |
| 2011 | 1.82 million hectares | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 1.64 million hectares | -10.0% |
| 2013 | 1.75 million hectares | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 1.75 million hectares | +0.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 1.75 million hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 3.60 million hectares, 49% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 1.75 million hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.21 million hectares, 54% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Land use in Sierra Leone changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +32.7% | 1.03 million hectares | 1.37 million hectares |
| 2001 | +31.4% | 610,000 hectares | 801,520 hectares |
| 2002 | +28.5% | 801,520 hectares | 1.03 million hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 431,111 hectares | 410,000 hectares | 455,000 hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 484,000 hectares | 460,000 hectares | 515,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 577,700 hectares | 520,000 hectares | 621,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 611,600 hectares | 604,000 hectares | 621,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.34 million hectares | 610,000 hectares | 1.83 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.74 million hectares | 1.64 million hectares | 1.82 million hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.75 million hectares | 1.75 million hectares | 1.75 million 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 land use in Sierra Leone?
- Land use in Sierra Leone was 1.75 million hectares in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land use recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 1.83 million hectares in 2006.
- What is the lowest land use recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 410,000 hectares in 1961.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for land use?
- Sierra Leone ranks 96th out of 224 countries with data for 2023.
- Is land use rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Land use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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