Tree cover loss in Nigeria
Nigeria: Tree cover loss was 105,592 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
105,592 hectares
Change on year
up 23.9%
World rank
39th
of 197 countries
All-time high
170,804 hectares
in 2017
All-time low
13,041 hectares
in 2005
Years of data
24
2001–2024
Tree cover loss in Nigeria, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 105,592 hectares for tree cover loss in 2024.
That represents a change of up 23.9% on the previous year and up 54.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Nigeria peaked at 170,804 hectares in 2017 and was at its lowest, 13,041 hectares, in 2005.
Nigeria ranks 39th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tree cover loss in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 43,177 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 32,202 hectares | -25.4% |
| 2003 | 13,249 hectares | -58.9% |
| 2004 | 14,446 hectares | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 13,041 hectares | -9.7% |
| 2006 | 26,002 hectares | +99.4% |
| 2007 | 24,445 hectares | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 27,278 hectares | +11.6% |
| 2009 | 25,122 hectares | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 32,579 hectares | +29.7% |
| 2011 | 53,658 hectares | +64.7% |
| 2012 | 34,805 hectares | -35.1% |
| 2013 | 43,150 hectares | +24.0% |
| 2014 | 68,278 hectares | +58.2% |
| 2015 | 40,875 hectares | -40.1% |
| 2016 | 72,056 hectares | +76.3% |
| 2017 | 170,804 hectares | +137.0% |
| 2018 | 119,735 hectares | -29.9% |
| 2019 | 86,842 hectares | -27.5% |
| 2020 | 99,098 hectares | +14.1% |
| 2021 | 97,052 hectares | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 106,100 hectares | +9.3% |
| 2023 | 85,234 hectares | -19.7% |
| 2024 | 105,592 hectares | +23.9% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 105,592 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,729 hectares, 18.4× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 105,592 hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,735 hectares, 13.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24,329 hectares | 13,041 hectares | 43,177 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 72,278 hectares | 32,579 hectares | 170,804 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 98,615 hectares | 85,234 hectares | 106,100 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More reference data data for Nigeria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 19.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 5.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 81.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 121.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 14.27 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in Nigeria?
- Tree cover loss in Nigeria was 105,592 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 170,804 hectares in 2017.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,041 hectares in 2005.
- How does Nigeria rank for tree cover loss?
- Nigeria ranks 39th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 54.7%. 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. 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.