Forest cover — all countries

Forest cover — Sub-Saharan Africa

Forest cover in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023 — 25.74%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 8.17 pp.

2023 25.74% −0.17 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 33.9%1990
Period minimum 25.74%2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of land area

Forest cover — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–20232527.53032.5351990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 33.9%1991: 33.75%1992: 33.6%1993: 32.67%1994: 32.52%1995: 32.38%1996: 32.23%1997: 32.09%1998: 31.94%1999: 31.79%2000: 31.65%2001: 31.49%2002: 31.34%2003: 31.18%2004: 30.81%2005: 30.66%2006: 30.51%2007: 30.35%2008: 30.2%2009: 30.05%2010: 29.89%2011: 29.72%2012: 27.58%2013: 27.41%2014: 27.25%2015: 27.08%2016: 26.91%2017: 26.75%2018: 26.58%2019: 26.41%2020: 26.24%2021: 26.07%2022: 25.9%2023: 25.74%
Change over the period: −8.17 pp Annual average: -0.25 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 25.74%
World 31.1%
Forest cover — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 25.74 −0.17 pp
2022 25.9 −0.17 pp
2021 26.07 −0.17 pp
2020 26.24 −0.17 pp
2019 26.41 −0.17 pp
2018 26.58 −0.17 pp
2017 26.75 −0.17 pp
2016 26.91 −0.17 pp
2015 27.08 −0.17 pp
2014 27.25 −0.16 pp
2013 27.41 −0.16 pp
2012 27.58 −2.14 pp
2011 29.72 −0.18 pp
2010 29.89 −0.15 pp
2009 30.05 −0.15 pp
2008 30.2 −0.15 pp
2007 30.35 −0.15 pp
2006 30.51 −0.15 pp
2005 30.66 −0.15 pp
2004 30.81 −0.37 pp
2003 31.18 −0.15 pp
2002 31.34 −0.15 pp
2001 31.49 −0.15 pp
2000 31.65 −0.15 pp
1999 31.79 −0.15 pp
1998 31.94 −0.15 pp
1997 32.09 −0.15 pp
1996 32.23 −0.15 pp
1995 32.38 −0.15 pp
1994 32.52 −0.15 pp
1993 32.67 −0.93 pp
1992 33.6 −0.15 pp
1991 33.75 −0.15 pp
1990 33.9

About the indicator

The share of land under natural or planted forest in the total land area. Under the FAO definition, forest is a plot larger than 0.5 hectares with trees taller than 5 meters and a canopy cover above 10 percent; crop plantations and urban parks are not counted. The estimates are updated as part of the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA).

Important: The aggregate for groups of countries is weighted by land area: the forest share is calculated against land area, not against the number of residents.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.