Tree cover loss in Kenya
Kenya: Tree cover loss was 14,057 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
14,057 hectares
Change on year
up 25.2%
World rank
76th
of 197 countries
All-time high
25,827 hectares
in 2007
All-time low
6,616 hectares
in 2022
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Tree cover loss in Kenya, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 14,057 hectares for tree cover loss in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 25.2% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Kenya peaked at 25,827 hectares in 2007 and was at its lowest, 6,616 hectares, in 2022.
Kenya ranks 76th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Tree cover loss in Kenya, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 18,758 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 20,163 hectares | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 13,370 hectares | -33.7% |
| 2004 | 16,903 hectares | +26.4% |
| 2005 | 12,626 hectares | -25.3% |
| 2006 | 20,556 hectares | +62.8% |
| 2007 | 25,827 hectares | +25.6% |
| 2008 | 19,087 hectares | -26.1% |
| 2009 | 17,545 hectares | -8.1% |
| 2010 | 22,502 hectares | +28.3% |
| 2011 | 17,130 hectares | -23.9% |
| 2012 | 17,659 hectares | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 13,314 hectares | -24.6% |
| 2014 | 15,206 hectares | +14.2% |
| 2015 | 15,570 hectares | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 18,995 hectares | +22.0% |
| 2017 | 22,098 hectares | +16.3% |
| 2018 | 15,833 hectares | -28.4% |
| 2019 | 15,881 hectares | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 18,896 hectares | +19.0% |
| 2021 | 7,537 hectares | -60.1% |
| 2022 | 6,616 hectares | -12.2% |
| 2023 | 11,232 hectares | +69.8% |
| 2024 | 14,057 hectares | +25.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 14,057 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,729 hectares, 2.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 14,057 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,735 hectares, 1.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18,315 hectares | 12,626 hectares | 25,827 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 17,419 hectares | 13,314 hectares | 22,502 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,668 hectares | 6,616 hectares | 18,896 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 73 Malawi 17,078 hectares compare
- 74 Bangladesh 15,911 hectares compare
- 75 South Korea 15,595 hectares compare
- 77 Chad 13,084 hectares compare
- 78 Dominican Republic 12,992 hectares compare
- 79 Hungary 12,697 hectares compare
More reference data data for Kenya
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5379 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 12.22 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.377 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 14.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 58.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 68.95 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Kenya?
- Tree cover loss in Kenya was 14,057 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 25,827 hectares in 2007.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,616 hectares in 2022.
- How does Kenya rank for tree cover loss?
- Kenya ranks 76th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya 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.