Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Ghana
Ghana: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 3,283 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Ghana, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tree cover loss by dominant driver in Ghana is 3,283 hectares, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 6.8% on the previous year and down 31.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Ghana peaked at 5,089 hectares in 2020 and was at its lowest, 659.04 hectares, in 2004.
Ghana ranks 8th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Ghana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,438 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 2,732 hectares | +90.1% |
| 2003 | 1,482 hectares | -45.8% |
| 2004 | 659.04 hectares | -55.5% |
| 2005 | 1,511 hectares | +129.3% |
| 2006 | 1,087 hectares | -28.1% |
| 2007 | 1,884 hectares | +73.3% |
| 2008 | 2,288 hectares | +21.4% |
| 2009 | 1,987 hectares | -13.2% |
| 2010 | 990.27 hectares | -50.2% |
| 2011 | 1,713 hectares | +73.0% |
| 2012 | 2,327 hectares | +35.9% |
| 2013 | 3,772 hectares | +62.1% |
| 2014 | 4,785 hectares | +26.9% |
| 2015 | 2,087 hectares | -56.4% |
| 2016 | 4,532 hectares | +117.2% |
| 2017 | 4,464 hectares | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 4,338 hectares | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 2,840 hectares | -34.5% |
| 2020 | 5,089 hectares | +79.2% |
| 2021 | 3,888 hectares | -23.6% |
| 2022 | 3,503 hectares | -9.9% |
| 2023 | 3,074 hectares | -12.3% |
| 2024 | 3,283 hectares | +6.8% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 3,283 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.1 hectares, 66.9× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 3,283 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 168.49 hectares, 19.5× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,674 hectares | 659.04 hectares | 2,732 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 3,185 hectares | 990.27 hectares | 4,785 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,767 hectares | 3,074 hectares | 5,089 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More reference data data for Ghana
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2805 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.89 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1989 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9405 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.9478 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 12.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.08 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in Ghana?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Ghana was 3,283 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 5,089 hectares in 2020.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 659.04 hectares in 2004.
- How does Ghana rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- Ghana ranks 8th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tree cover loss by dominant driver. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Tree cover loss due to the expansion and intensification of roads, settlements, urban areas, or other built infrastructure.