Tree cover loss from wildfires in Nigeria

Nigeria: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 166.01 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
166.01 hectares
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
80th
of 152 countries
All-time high
252.76 hectares
in 2017
All-time low
0 hectares
in 2015
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Tree cover loss from wildfires in Nigeria, 2001–2024

01002003002001201220242001: 0.306 hectares2002: 1.1 hectares2003: 2.1 hectares2004: 1.9 hectares2005: 2.1 hectares2006: 2.1 hectares2007: 0.077 hectares2008: 1.3 hectares2009: 0.229 hectares2010: 0.535 hectares2011: 0.918 hectares2012: 0.916 hectares2013: 1.1 hectares2014: 1.1 hectares2015: 0 hectares2016: 2.4 hectares2017: 252.8 hectares2018: 45 hectares2019: 4.3 hectares2020: 20.7 hectares2021: 30.8 hectares2022: 177 hectares2023: 167.5 hectares2024: 166 hectares

Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.

Analysis

Nigeria recorded 166.01 hectares for tree cover loss from wildfires in 2024.

The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 14,363.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Nigeria peaked at 252.76 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0 hectares, in 2015.

Nigeria ranks 80th 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 1.25 hectares 0.0766 hectares 2.14 hectares 9
2010s 30.92 hectares 0 hectares 252.76 hectares 10
2020s 112.39 hectares 20.68 hectares 176.96 hectares 5

Countries ranked near Nigeria

  1. 77 Thailand 213.88 hectares compare
  2. 78 Gabon 198.22 hectares compare
  3. 79 Zimbabwe 172.49 hectares compare
  4. 81 Bhutan 154.43 hectares compare
  5. 82 Japan 152.97 hectares compare
  6. 83 Sweden 152.76 hectares compare

See the full ranking of 152 places →

More reference data data for Nigeria

All data for Nigeria →

Frequently asked questions

What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Nigeria?
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Nigeria was 166.01 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 Nigeria?
The highest recorded value was 252.76 hectares in 2017.
What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Nigeria?
The lowest recorded value was 0 hectares in 2015.
How does Nigeria rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
Nigeria ranks 80th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Nigeria?
Over the last ten years it is up 14,363.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 from wildfires. 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

Indicator
Tree cover loss from wildfires
Unit
hectares
Source
Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
152 places, 3,353 data points, 2001–2024
Last refreshed

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).