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Forest area — all countries

Forest area — Sub-Saharan Africa

Forest area in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2023 — 6,151,656 km². Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 9.9%.

2023 6.15M km² −0.65% vs 2022
World rank —
Period maximum 6.94M km²1993
Period minimum 6.15M km²2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · km²

Forest area — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–20236M6.2M6.4M6.6M6.8M7M1990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 6,828,286 km²1991: 6,798,063 km²1992: 6,767,840 km²1993: 6,939,418 km²1994: 6,908,433 km²1995: 6,877,448 km²1996: 6,846,464 km²1997: 6,815,479 km²1998: 6,784,495 km²1999: 6,753,510 km²2000: 6,722,525 km²2001: 6,689,706 km²2002: 6,656,887 km²2003: 6,624,068 km²2004: 6,591,249 km²2005: 6,558,430 km²2006: 6,525,611 km²2007: 6,492,792 km²2008: 6,459,973 km²2009: 6,427,154 km²2010: 6,394,335 km²2011: 6,356,931 km²2012: 6,588,424 km²2013: 6,549,278 km²2014: 6,510,132 km²2015: 6,470,987 km²2016: 6,430,837 km²2017: 6,391,509 km²2018: 6,352,215 km²2019: 6,311,903 km²2020: 6,271,978 km²2021: 6,231,788 km²2022: 6,191,775 km²2023: 6,151,656 km²
Change over the period: −676,630 (−9.91%) Average annual rate: -0.32 %

Comparison, 2023

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

Sub-Saharan Africa 6.15M km²
World 40.35M km²
Forest area — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year km² Change Change, %
2023 6.15M −40,119 −0.65%
2022 6.19M −40,013 −0.64%
2021 6.23M −40,190 −0.64%
2020 6.27M −39,925 −0.63%
2019 6.31M −40,312 −0.63%
2018 6.35M −39,295 −0.61%
2017 6.39M −39,328 −0.61%
2016 6.43M −40,150 −0.62%
2015 6.47M −39,146 −0.6%
2014 6.51M −39,146 −0.6%
2013 6.55M −39,146 −0.59%
2012 6.59M +231,493 +3.64%
2011 6.36M −37,403 −0.58%
2010 6.39M −32,819 −0.51%
2009 6.43M −32,819 −0.51%
2008 6.46M −32,819 −0.51%
2007 6.49M −32,819 −0.5%
2006 6.53M −32,819 −0.5%
2005 6.56M −32,819 −0.5%
2004 6.59M −32,819 −0.5%
2003 6.62M −32,819 −0.49%
2002 6.66M −32,819 −0.49%
2001 6.69M −32,819 −0.49%
2000 6.72M −30,985 −0.46%
1999 6.75M −30,985 −0.46%
1998 6.78M −30,985 −0.45%
1997 6.82M −30,985 −0.45%
1996 6.85M −30,985 −0.45%
1995 6.88M −30,985 −0.45%
1994 6.91M −30,985 −0.45%
1993 6.94M +171,578 +2.54%
1992 6.77M −30,223 −0.44%
1991 6.8M −30,223 −0.44%
1990 6.83M — —

About the indicator

Land under natural and planted forest in square kilometers, as defined by the FAO. It shows where the world's forest resources are concentrated in absolute terms: a handful of countries hold more than half of the planet's forest, while the ranking by forest cover is led by entirely different countries.

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

Other indicators for Sub-Saharan Africa

Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Land area

The area of a country excluding inland water bodies — the denominator for every land share.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Emissions CO2 emissions from land use

Emissions from deforestation and land-use change. They can be negative.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year Environment Protected areas

The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

Sub-Saharan Africa by year
All indicators for Sub-Saharan Africa