Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Nigeria
Nigeria: Tree cover loss by dominant driver was 2,462 hectares in 2024. ▲ Rising
Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria is 2,462 hectares, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 85.9% on the previous year and down 42.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss by dominant driver in Nigeria peaked at 6,846 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 584.71 hectares, in 2003.
Nigeria ranks 10th 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4,442 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 2,160 hectares | -51.4% |
| 2003 | 584.71 hectares | -72.9% |
| 2004 | 622.6 hectares | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 1,477 hectares | +137.3% |
| 2006 | 2,198 hectares | +48.8% |
| 2007 | 3,912 hectares | +78.0% |
| 2008 | 3,988 hectares | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 3,381 hectares | -15.2% |
| 2010 | 3,721 hectares | +10.1% |
| 2011 | 5,239 hectares | +40.8% |
| 2012 | 4,245 hectares | -19.0% |
| 2013 | 3,570 hectares | -15.9% |
| 2014 | 4,271 hectares | +19.6% |
| 2015 | 2,603 hectares | -39.0% |
| 2016 | 3,154 hectares | +21.2% |
| 2017 | 6,846 hectares | +117.0% |
| 2018 | 3,340 hectares | -51.2% |
| 2019 | 1,859 hectares | -44.3% |
| 2020 | 2,747 hectares | +47.7% |
| 2021 | 2,385 hectares | -13.2% |
| 2022 | 2,502 hectares | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 1,325 hectares | -47.1% |
| 2024 | 2,462 hectares | +85.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 2,462 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 49.1 hectares, 50.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 2,462 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 168.49 hectares, 14.6× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,530 hectares | 584.71 hectares | 4,442 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 3,885 hectares | 1,859 hectares | 6,846 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,284 hectares | 1,325 hectares | 2,747 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss by dominant driver in Nigeria?
- Tree cover loss by dominant driver in Nigeria was 2,462 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 6,846 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss by dominant driver recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 584.71 hectares in 2003.
- How does Nigeria rank for tree cover loss by dominant driver?
- Nigeria ranks 10th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss by dominant driver rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.