Forest area in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria

Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria: Forest area was 644.44 million hectares in 2011. ▼ Falling

Latest (2011)
644.44 million hectares
Change on year
down 0.5%
Rank
5th
of 6 groups
All-time high
714.32 million hectares
in 1990
All-time low
644.44 million hectares
in 2011
Years of data
22
1990–2011

Forest area in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria, 1990–2011

0200.0M400.0M600.0M800.0M1990200020111990: 714.3M hectares1991: 710.7M hectares1992: 707.0M hectares1993: 703.3M hectares1994: 699.7M hectares1995: 696.0M hectares1996: 692.3M hectares1997: 688.7M hectares1998: 685.0M hectares1999: 681.3M hectares2000: 677.7M hectares2001: 674.6M hectares2002: 671.6M hectares2003: 668.6M hectares2004: 665.5M hectares2005: 662.5M hectares2006: 659.5M hectares2007: 656.5M hectares2008: 653.4M hectares2009: 650.4M hectares2010: 647.4M hectares2011: 644.4M hectares

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.

Analysis

The most recent figure for forest area in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria is 644.44 million hectares, measured in 2011. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, forest area in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria peaked at 714.32 million hectares in 1990 and was at its lowest, 644.44 million hectares, in 2011.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.

Forest area in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria, year by year

Annual values for Forest area (hectares) in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria, 1990 to 2011.
Year hectares Change
1990 714.32 million hectares
1991 710.66 million hectares -0.5%
1992 706.99 million hectares -0.5%
1993 703.33 million hectares -0.5%
1994 699.66 million hectares -0.5%
1995 695.99 million hectares -0.5%
1996 692.33 million hectares -0.5%
1997 688.66 million hectares -0.5%
1998 684.99 million hectares -0.5%
1999 681.33 million hectares -0.5%
2000 677.66 million hectares -0.5%
2001 674.63 million hectares -0.4%
2002 671.60 million hectares -0.4%
2003 668.56 million hectares -0.5%
2004 665.53 million hectares -0.5%
2005 662.50 million hectares -0.5%
2006 659.48 million hectares -0.5%
2007 656.46 million hectares -0.5%
2008 653.44 million hectares -0.5%
2009 650.42 million hectares -0.5%
2010 647.40 million hectares -0.5%
2011 644.44 million hectares -0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 697.83 million hectares 681.33 million hectares 714.32 million hectares 10
2000s 664.03 million hectares 650.42 million hectares 677.66 million hectares 10
2010s 645.92 million hectares 644.44 million hectares 647.40 million hectares 2

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria

  1. 2 Sudan 69.95 million hectares compare
  2. 3 Angola 58.36 million hectares compare
  3. 4 Zambia 49.30 million hectares compare
  4. 5 Mozambique 38.81 million hectares compare
  5. 6 Tanzania, United Republic of 33.02 million hectares compare
  6. 7 Central African Republic 22.57 million hectares compare
  7. 8 Congo 22.40 million hectares compare

See the full ranking of 59 places →

More agriculture & rural data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is forest area in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
Forest area in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria was 644.44 million hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
What is the highest forest area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 714.32 million hectares in 1990.
What is the lowest forest area recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 644.44 million hectares in 2011.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria rank for forest area?
Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria ranks 5th out of 6 groups with data for 2011.
Is forest area rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Forest area (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Forest area in Sub-Saharan Africa excluding South Africa and Nigeria. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://agriculture.statizoid.com/stat/forest-area-hectares/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-south-africa-and-nigeria/

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About this data

Indicator
Forest area (hectares)
Unit
hectares
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
59 places, 1,295 data points, 1990–2011
Last refreshed

Forest area is land under natural or planted stands of trees of at least 5 meters in situ, whether productive or not, and excludes tree stands in agricultural production systems (for example, in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems) and trees in urban parks and gardens.