Share of forest area within protected areas in Kenya
Kenya: Share of forest area within protected areas was 49.7% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of forest area within protected areas in Kenya, 1990–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of forest area within protected areas in Kenya stood at 49.7%. That is the lowest value across all 10 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of forest area within protected areas in Kenya peaked at 52.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 49.7%, in 2020.
Kenya ranks 20th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of forest area within protected areas in Kenya, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 51.7% | — |
| 2000 | 52.0% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 51.0% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 50.8% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 33.4% | -34.3% |
| 2017 | 33.4% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 33.5% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 33.5% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 49.7% | +48.4% |
| 2025 | 49.7% | +0.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 49.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 17.4%, 2.8× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 49.7% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 19.7%, 2.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 51.7% | 51.7% | 51.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 52.0% | 52.0% | 52.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 39.2% | 33.4% | 51.0% | 6 |
| 2020s | 49.7% | 49.7% | 49.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 17 Uganda 53.9% compare
- 18 Sao Tome and Principe 53.6% compare
- 19 Guatemala 50.3% compare
- 21 Cape Verde 48.3% compare
- 22 Panama 47.3% compare
- 23 Mozambique 47.1% compare
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)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of forest area within protected areas in Kenya?
- Share of forest area within protected areas in Kenya was 49.7% in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of forest area within protected areas recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 52.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of forest area within protected areas recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.7% in 2020.
- How does Kenya rank for share of forest area within protected areas?
- Kenya ranks 20th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of forest area within protected areas rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of forest area within protected areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%).