Tree cover loss from wildfires in Ghana
Ghana: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 74.81 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Ghana, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 74.81 hectares for tree cover loss from wildfires in 2024.
That represents a change of up 372.9% on the previous year and up 552.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Ghana peaked at 611.25 hectares in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.1528 hectares, in 2010.
Ghana ranks 93rd of 152 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Ghana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1.99 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 1.83 hectares | -7.7% |
| 2003 | 0.4584 hectares | -75.0% |
| 2004 | 0.3821 hectares | -16.6% |
| 2005 | 0.6878 hectares | +80.0% |
| 2006 | 1.15 hectares | +66.6% |
| 2007 | 0.6877 hectares | -40.0% |
| 2008 | 0.3821 hectares | -44.4% |
| 2009 | 0.535 hectares | +40.0% |
| 2010 | 0.1528 hectares | -71.4% |
| 2011 | 0.6878 hectares | +350.1% |
| 2012 | 2.83 hectares | +311.2% |
| 2013 | 5.96 hectares | +110.8% |
| 2014 | 11.46 hectares | +92.3% |
| 2016 | 611.25 hectares | +5232.1% |
| 2017 | 34.69 hectares | -94.3% |
| 2018 | 76.1 hectares | +119.3% |
| 2019 | 6.88 hectares | -91.0% |
| 2020 | 338.56 hectares | +4822.6% |
| 2021 | 42.64 hectares | -87.4% |
| 2022 | 529.48 hectares | +1141.7% |
| 2023 | 15.82 hectares | -97.0% |
| 2024 | 74.81 hectares | +372.9% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 74.81 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 169.25 hectares, 44% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 74.81 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 169.25 hectares, 44% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +5232.1% | 11.46 hectares | 611.25 hectares |
| 2020 | +4822.6% | 6.88 hectares | 338.56 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.8999 hectares | 0.3821 hectares | 1.99 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 83.34 hectares | 0.1528 hectares | 611.25 hectares | 9 |
| 2020s | 200.26 hectares | 15.82 hectares | 529.48 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 from wildfires in Ghana?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Ghana was 74.81 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 611.25 hectares in 2016.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1528 hectares in 2010.
- How does Ghana rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Ghana ranks 93rd out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 552.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 from wildfires. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 23 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Tree cover loss due to fire with no visible human conversion or agricultural activity afterward. Fires may be started by natural causes (e.g. lightning) or may be related to human activities (accidental or deliberate).