Tree cover loss in Lesotho
Lesotho: Tree cover loss was 1.28 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Tree cover loss in Lesotho, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Lesotho recorded 1.28 hectares for tree cover loss in 2024.
That represents a change of down 4.7% on the previous year and down 86.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Lesotho peaked at 15.57 hectares in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.4027 hectares, in 2001.
Lesotho ranks 174th of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss in Lesotho, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0.4027 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 1.75 hectares | +333.6% |
| 2003 | 1.68 hectares | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 2.63 hectares | +56.6% |
| 2005 | 0.6712 hectares | -74.5% |
| 2006 | 1.55 hectares | +131.3% |
| 2007 | 1.68 hectares | +7.9% |
| 2008 | 4.3 hectares | +157.0% |
| 2009 | 1.88 hectares | -56.4% |
| 2010 | 2.56 hectares | +36.6% |
| 2011 | 1.48 hectares | -42.3% |
| 2012 | 1.49 hectares | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 4.45 hectares | +199.1% |
| 2014 | 9.43 hectares | +112.2% |
| 2015 | 0.7344 hectares | -92.2% |
| 2016 | 13.19 hectares | +1696.0% |
| 2017 | 6.47 hectares | -51.0% |
| 2018 | 7.05 hectares | +9.0% |
| 2019 | 8.33 hectares | +18.2% |
| 2020 | 15.32 hectares | +84.0% |
| 2021 | 15.57 hectares | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 3.03 hectares | -80.6% |
| 2023 | 1.34 hectares | -55.6% |
| 2024 | 1.28 hectares | -4.7% |
Lesotho compared with similar countries
- Lesotho's 1.28 hectares is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,729 hectares, 0% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Lesotho's 1.28 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,735 hectares, 0% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss in Lesotho 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 | +1696.0% | 0.7344 hectares | 13.19 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.84 hectares | 0.4027 hectares | 4.3 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.52 hectares | 0.7344 hectares | 13.19 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.31 hectares | 1.28 hectares | 15.57 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Lesotho
More reference data data for Lesotho
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0331 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5388 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0101 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.1115 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0549 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Lesotho?
- Tree cover loss in Lesotho was 1.28 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 Lesotho?
- The highest recorded value was 15.57 hectares in 2021.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Lesotho?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4027 hectares in 2001.
- How does Lesotho rank for tree cover loss?
- Lesotho ranks 174th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Lesotho?
- Over the last ten years it is down 86.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lesotho 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.