Forest area in Gambia
Gambia: Forest area was 2,255 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Forest area in Gambia, 1990–2023
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area in Gambia is 2,255 sq. km, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Gambia peaked at 4,147 sq. km in 1990 and was at its lowest, 2,255 sq. km, in 2023.
Gambia ranks 154th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Forest area in Gambia, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4,147 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 4,089 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 4,032 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 3,975 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 3,917 sq. km | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 3,860 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 3,803 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 1997 | 3,745 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 3,688 sq. km | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 3,631 sq. km | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 3,573 sq. km | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 3,516 sq. km | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 3,459 sq. km | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 3,401 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 3,344 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 3,287 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 3,229 sq. km | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 3,172 sq. km | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 3,115 sq. km | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 3,057 sq. km | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 3,000 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 2,943 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 2,885 sq. km | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 2,828 sq. km | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 2,771 sq. km | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 2,713 sq. km | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 2,656 sq. km | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 2,599 sq. km | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 2,541 sq. km | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 2,484 sq. km | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 2,427 sq. km | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 2,369 sq. km | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 2,312 sq. km | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 2,255 sq. km | -2.5% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 2,255 sq. km is below the median for low income countries, which is 39,804 sq. km, 6% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 2,255 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59,081 sq. km, 4% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,889 sq. km | 3,631 sq. km | 4,147 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,315 sq. km | 3,057 sq. km | 3,573 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,742 sq. km | 2,484 sq. km | 3,000 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,341 sq. km | 2,255 sq. km | 2,427 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More agriculture & rural data for Gambia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 25.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2385 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 219.17 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2766 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0004 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3501 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Gambia?
- Forest area in Gambia was 2,255 sq. km in 2023, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4,147 sq. km in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,255 sq. km in 2023.
- How does Gambia rank for forest area?
- Gambia ranks 154th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Gambia 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.