Tree cover loss from wildfires in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Tree cover loss from wildfires was 17.74 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss from wildfires in Sierra Leone, 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 from wildfires in Sierra Leone is 17.74 hectares, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 29.4% on the previous year and up 5,722.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss from wildfires in Sierra Leone peaked at 34.2 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.076 hectares, in 2004.
That places Sierra Leone 107th out of 152 countries with data for 2024, putting it 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0.4559 hectares | — |
| 2004 | 0.076 hectares | -83.3% |
| 2005 | 0.1523 hectares | +100.4% |
| 2006 | 0.3051 hectares | +100.3% |
| 2011 | 0.38 hectares | +24.6% |
| 2012 | 0.0761 hectares | -80.0% |
| 2013 | 0.3047 hectares | +300.1% |
| 2015 | 1.52 hectares | +400.5% |
| 2016 | 2.44 hectares | +60.1% |
| 2017 | 34.2 hectares | +1300.7% |
| 2018 | 8.31 hectares | -75.7% |
| 2019 | 10.41 hectares | +25.3% |
| 2020 | 8.23 hectares | -21.0% |
| 2021 | 19.05 hectares | +131.5% |
| 2022 | 9.98 hectares | -47.6% |
| 2023 | 13.7 hectares | +37.3% |
| 2024 | 17.74 hectares | +29.4% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 17.74 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 353.64 hectares, 5% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 17.74 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 169.25 hectares, 10% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss from wildfires in Sierra Leone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +1300.7% | 2.44 hectares | 34.2 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.2473 hectares | 0.076 hectares | 0.4559 hectares | 4 |
| 2010s | 7.21 hectares | 0.0761 hectares | 34.2 hectares | 8 |
| 2020s | 13.74 hectares | 8.23 hectares | 19.05 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More reference data data for Sierra Leone
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0238 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.4498 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.5935 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0797 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.044 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.72 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.6534 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss from wildfires in Sierra Leone?
- Tree cover loss from wildfires in Sierra Leone was 17.74 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 34.2 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss from wildfires recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.076 hectares in 2004.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for tree cover loss from wildfires?
- Sierra Leone ranks 107th out of 152 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss from wildfires rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5,722.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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 — 17 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).