Forest area (sq. km) in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Forest area (sq. km) was 24,363 sq. km in 2025. ▼ Falling
Forest area in Sierra Leone, 1990–2025
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area in Sierra Leone is 24,363 sq. km, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Sierra Leone peaked at 31,267 sq. km in 1990 and was at its lowest, 24,363 sq. km, in 2025.
Sierra Leone ranks 99th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 31,267 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 31,070 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 30,872 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 30,675 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 30,478 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 30,281 sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 30,083 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 29,886 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 29,689 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 29,492 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 29,294 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 29,097 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 28,900 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 28,702 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 28,505 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 28,308 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 28,111 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 27,913 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 27,716 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 27,519 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 27,322 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 27,124 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 26,927 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 26,730 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 26,533 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 26,335 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 26,138 sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 25,941 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 25,744 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 25,546 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 25,349 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 25,152 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 24,954 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 24,757 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 24,560 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 24,363 sq. km | -0.8% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 24,363 sq. km is below the median for low income countries, which is 32,370 sq. km, 75% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 24,363 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43,718 sq. km, 56% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 30,379 sq. km | 29,492 sq. km | 31,267 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 28,407 sq. km | 27,519 sq. km | 29,294 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 26,434 sq. km | 25,546 sq. km | 27,322 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 24,856 sq. km | 24,363 sq. km | 25,349 sq. km | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 96 Bhutan 26,747 sq. km compare
- 97 Solomon Islands 25,139 sq. km compare
- 98 Estonia 24,468 sq. km compare
- 100 Equatorial Guinea 24,066 sq. km compare
- 101 Uganda 23,677 sq. km compare
- 102 Turkmenistan 23,300 sq. km compare
More agriculture & rural data for Sierra Leone
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % 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 0.1983 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0005 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.4477 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2954 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 250 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Sierra Leone?
- Forest area in Sierra Leone was 24,363 sq. km in 2025, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 31,267 sq. km in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 24,363 sq. km in 2025.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for forest area?
- Sierra Leone ranks 99th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.