Forest area (sq. km) in Benin
Benin: Forest area (sq. km) was 31,333 sq. km in 2025. ▼ Falling
Forest area in Benin, 1990–2025
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
Benin recorded 31,333 sq. km for forest area in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Benin peaked at 69,801 sq. km in 1990 and was at its lowest, 31,333 sq. km, in 2025.
Benin ranks 90th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Forest area (sq. km) in Benin, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 69,801 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 68,495 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 67,190 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 1993 | 65,884 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 64,578 sq. km | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 63,272 sq. km | -2.0% |
| 1996 | 61,966 sq. km | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 60,660 sq. km | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 59,354 sq. km | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 58,049 sq. km | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 56,743 sq. km | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 55,333 sq. km | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 53,923 sq. km | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 52,513 sq. km | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 51,102 sq. km | -2.7% |
| 2005 | 49,692 sq. km | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 48,282 sq. km | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 46,872 sq. km | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 45,462 sq. km | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 44,052 sq. km | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 42,642 sq. km | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 41,128 sq. km | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 39,614 sq. km | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 38,099 sq. km | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 36,585 sq. km | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 35,071 sq. km | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 34,697 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 34,323 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 33,949 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 33,576 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 33,202 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 32,828 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 32,454 sq. km | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 32,080 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 31,706 sq. km | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 31,333 sq. km | -1.2% |
Benin compared with similar countries
- Benin's 31,333 sq. km is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37,741 sq. km, 83% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Benin's 31,333 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43,718 sq. km, 72% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63,925 sq. km | 58,049 sq. km | 69,801 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 50,398 sq. km | 44,052 sq. km | 56,743 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 36,968 sq. km | 33,576 sq. km | 42,642 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,267 sq. km | 31,333 sq. km | 33,202 sq. km | 6 |
Countries ranked near Benin
- 87 United Kingdom 32,780 sq. km compare
- 88 Burkina Faso 32,370 sq. km compare
- 89 Pakistan 31,925 sq. km compare
- 91 Nicaragua 31,075 sq. km compare
- 92 Georgia 31,005 sq. km compare
- 93 Costa Rica 29,896 sq. km compare
More agriculture & rural data for Benin
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.2998 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 1.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.337 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2292 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 380.06 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6697 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Benin?
- Forest area in Benin was 31,333 sq. km in 2025, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Benin?
- The highest recorded value was 69,801 sq. km in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Benin?
- The lowest recorded value was 31,333 sq. km in 2025.
- How does Benin rank for forest area?
- Benin ranks 90th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Benin?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Benin data come from?
- The figures come from FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Forest area (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.