Tree cover loss in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone: Tree cover loss was 130,659 hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
130,659 hectares
Change on year
up 31.1%
World rank
33rd
of 197 countries
All-time high
232,739 hectares
in 2015
All-time low
4,010 hectares
in 2004
Years of data
24
2001–2024

Tree cover loss in Sierra Leone, 2001–2024

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k2001201220242001: 18.6k hectares2002: 15.3k hectares2003: 9.1k hectares2004: 4.0k hectares2005: 6.9k hectares2006: 28.5k hectares2007: 21.9k hectares2008: 20.9k hectares2009: 30.5k hectares2010: 8.8k hectares2011: 33.9k hectares2012: 16.3k hectares2013: 170.2k hectares2014: 161.5k hectares2015: 232.7k hectares2016: 177.7k hectares2017: 232.7k hectares2018: 188.2k hectares2019: 175.5k hectares2020: 154.6k hectares2021: 113.0k hectares2022: 119.9k hectares2023: 99.7k hectares2024: 130.7k hectares

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 in Sierra Leone is 130,659 hectares, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 31.1% on the previous year and down 19.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, tree cover loss in Sierra Leone peaked at 232,739 hectares in 2015 and was at its lowest, 4,010 hectares, in 2004.

That places Sierra Leone 33rd 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 17,295 hectares 4,010 hectares 30,530 hectares 9
2010s 139,754 hectares 8,770 hectares 232,739 hectares 10
2020s 123,579 hectares 99,678 hectares 154,626 hectares 5

Countries ranked near Sierra Leone

  1. 30 Venezuela 144,477 hectares compare
  2. 31 Guatemala 141,961 hectares compare
  3. 32 Thailand 141,565 hectares compare
  4. 34 Vietnam 128,409 hectares compare
  5. 35 India 125,678 hectares compare
  6. 36 Congo 114,287 hectares compare

See the full ranking of 197 places →

More reference data data for Sierra Leone

All data for Sierra Leone →

Frequently asked questions

What is tree cover loss in Sierra Leone?
Tree cover loss in Sierra Leone was 130,659 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 Sierra Leone?
The highest recorded value was 232,739 hectares in 2015.
What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in Sierra Leone?
The lowest recorded value was 4,010 hectares in 2004.
How does Sierra Leone rank for tree cover loss?
Sierra Leone ranks 33rd out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
Is tree cover loss rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.1%. 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. 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

Indicator
Tree cover loss
Unit
hectares
Source
Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
197 places, 4,728 data points, 2001–2024
Last refreshed

Tree cover loss driven by all causes.