Nigeria Forest Area
Forest area as % of land area AG.LND.FRST.ZS
Nigeria's forest area was 22.85% in 2025, ranked 124th globally. This represents a 1.5% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Nigeria's forest area stood at 22.85% in 2025, a decline of +0.36% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 22.85% by 2025. Nigeria ranked 124th globally.
Nigeria’s forest area has contracted from 29.12 percent of its land in 1990, the all‑time peak, to 22.85 percent in 2025, the lowest share recorded over the 35‑year series and the 124th position globally. This decline of 6.27 percentage points reflects persistent pressures from agricultural expansion, logging and infrastructure development, mirroring patterns observed in other mid‑ranked nations such as Belgium, which records 22.60 percent forest cover. The reduction is also comparable to the 24.13 percent share in the British Virgin Islands, underscoring that even countries with differing economies face similar deforestation dynamics when governance and enforcement are weak. While the downward trajectory has been steady since the early 1990s, recent policy initiatives aimed at reforestation and stricter land‑use regulation could moderate the loss, suggesting that future forest cover may stabilise or modestly recover if implementation is effective.
Data & projection
| Year | Forest Area | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 22.67% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 22.85% | - | - |
| 2025 | 22.85% | −0.36% | #124 |
| 2023 | 23.21% | −0.18% | #123 |
| 2022 | 23.39% | −0.18% | #124 |
| 2021 | 23.57% | −0.18% | #124 |
| 2020 | 23.75% | −0.18% | #125 |
| 2019 | 23.93% | −0.18% | #125 |
| 2018 | 24.10% | −0.18% | #123 |
| 2017 | 24.28% | −0.18% | #121 |
| 2016 | 24.46% | −0.18% | #121 |
| 2015 | 24.64% | −0.18% | #121 |
| 2014 | 24.82% | −0.18% | #120 |
| 2013 | 25.00% | −0.18% | #120 |
| 2012 | 25.18% | −0.18% | #120 |
| 2011 | 25.36% | −0.18% | #120 |
| 2010 | 25.54% | −0.18% | #120 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Nigeria matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2024. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw forest area improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Nigeria's forest area was 22.85% in 2025. Ranked 124th globally. This represents a 1.5% decrease from the previous year.
Nigeria's forest area peaked at 29.12% in 1990.
The lowest forest area in Nigeria was 22.85% in 2025.
Nigeria ranks 124th globally in forest area as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Nigeria's forest area is projected to reach 22.85% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The forest area of Nigeria in 2025 was 22.85%. This ranks 124th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_nigeria_forest-area,
title = {Nigeria Forest Area},
url = {https://historysaid.com/nigeria/forest-area/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}