Tree cover loss in Ghana
Ghana: Tree cover loss was 107,910 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
107,910 hectares
Change on year
down 4.1%
World rank
37th
of 197 countries
All-time high
151,509 hectares
in 2018
All-time low
17,602 hectares
in 2004
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Tree cover loss in Ghana, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 107,910 hectares for tree cover loss in 2024.
The figure is down 4.1% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Ghana peaked at 151,509 hectares in 2018 and was at its lowest, 17,602 hectares, in 2004.
That places Ghana 37th out of 197 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss in Ghana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 43,599 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 78,299 hectares | +79.6% |
| 2003 | 24,904 hectares | -68.2% |
| 2004 | 17,602 hectares | -29.3% |
| 2005 | 41,279 hectares | +134.5% |
| 2006 | 27,105 hectares | -34.3% |
| 2007 | 40,140 hectares | +48.1% |
| 2008 | 37,783 hectares | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 38,213 hectares | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 19,439 hectares | -49.1% |
| 2011 | 36,173 hectares | +86.1% |
| 2012 | 36,592 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 81,118 hectares | +121.7% |
| 2014 | 120,128 hectares | +48.1% |
| 2015 | 57,372 hectares | -52.2% |
| 2016 | 119,222 hectares | +107.8% |
| 2017 | 115,307 hectares | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 151,509 hectares | +31.4% |
| 2019 | 88,257 hectares | -41.7% |
| 2020 | 136,599 hectares | +54.8% |
| 2021 | 101,390 hectares | -25.8% |
| 2022 | 118,624 hectares | +17.0% |
| 2023 | 112,578 hectares | -5.1% |
| 2024 | 107,910 hectares | -4.1% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 107,910 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,729 hectares, 18.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 107,910 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,735 hectares, 14.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38,769 hectares | 17,602 hectares | 78,299 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 82,512 hectares | 19,439 hectares | 151,509 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 115,420 hectares | 101,390 hectares | 136,599 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 in Ghana?
- Tree cover loss in Ghana was 107,910 hectares in 2024, according to Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tree cover loss recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 151,509 hectares in 2018.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,602 hectares in 2004.
- How does Ghana rank for tree cover loss?
- Ghana ranks 37th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. 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. 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 driven by all causes.