Tree cover loss in South Sudan
South Sudan: Tree cover loss was 5,507 hectares in 2024. ▼ Falling
Tree cover loss in South Sudan, 2001–2024
Source: Global Forest Watch (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, tree cover loss in South Sudan stood at 5,507 hectares.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.3% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tree cover loss in South Sudan peaked at 10,062 hectares in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1,810 hectares, in 2003.
South Sudan ranks 95th 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 South Sudan, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4,289 hectares | — |
| 2002 | 7,334 hectares | +71.0% |
| 2003 | 1,810 hectares | -75.3% |
| 2004 | 9,732 hectares | +437.7% |
| 2005 | 10,062 hectares | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 8,388 hectares | -16.6% |
| 2007 | 8,974 hectares | +7.0% |
| 2008 | 8,555 hectares | -4.7% |
| 2009 | 7,629 hectares | -10.8% |
| 2010 | 3,659 hectares | -52.0% |
| 2011 | 8,634 hectares | +136.0% |
| 2012 | 6,135 hectares | -28.9% |
| 2013 | 4,158 hectares | -32.2% |
| 2014 | 6,066 hectares | +45.9% |
| 2015 | 2,420 hectares | -60.1% |
| 2016 | 4,035 hectares | +66.7% |
| 2017 | 6,813 hectares | +68.8% |
| 2018 | 2,611 hectares | -61.7% |
| 2019 | 3,711 hectares | +42.1% |
| 2020 | 2,286 hectares | -38.4% |
| 2021 | 2,791 hectares | +22.1% |
| 2022 | 3,418 hectares | +22.5% |
| 2023 | 6,139 hectares | +79.6% |
| 2024 | 5,507 hectares | -10.3% |
South Sudan compared with similar countries
- South Sudan's 5,507 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 7,400 hectares, 74% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
- South Sudan's 5,507 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 7,735 hectares, 71% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Tree cover loss in South Sudan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +437.7% | 1,810 hectares | 9,732 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,419 hectares | 1,810 hectares | 10,062 hectares | 9 |
| 2010s | 4,824 hectares | 2,420 hectares | 8,634 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,028 hectares | 2,286 hectares | 6,139 hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Sudan
More reference data data for South Sudan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 7 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3667 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.41 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 19,422 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure Management 684.53 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 325.82 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 8,797 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 6.36 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 577.67 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 944.75 (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tree cover loss in South Sudan?
- Tree cover loss in South Sudan was 5,507 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 South Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 10,062 hectares in 2005.
- What is the lowest tree cover loss recorded in South Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,810 hectares in 2003.
- How does South Sudan rank for tree cover loss?
- South Sudan ranks 95th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is tree cover loss rising or falling in South Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Sudan 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.