Deforestation statistics for Nigeria
Total land area: Nigeria
| Total land area | ha |
| Land area | 91,056,311 |
| Tree cover in 2018 | 10,326,662 |
Forest and tree cover extent: Nigeria
Extent of primary forest cover and tree cover for Nigeria. All area figures are in hectares (ha)| Year | Primary forest | Tree cover (30%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10,077,588 | |
| 2001 | 1,903,125 | |
| 2010 | 1,869,180 | 10,966,046 |
| 2018 | 1,789,176 | 10,326,662 |
| Primary/Total tree cover 2018 | 17% | |
| Tree cover/Total land area 2018 | 11.3% |
Primary forest loss and tree cover loss: Nigeria
Annual loss of primary forest cover and tree cover for Nigeria by year. All area figures are in hectares (ha)| Year | Primary forest | Tree cover (30%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 43,540 | ||
| 2002 | 6,132 | 32,411 | |
| 2003 | 1,830 | 13,406 | |
| 2004 | 3,055 | 14,672 | |
| 2005 | 1,922 | 14,672 | |
| 2006 | 3,458 | 26,220 | |
| 2007 | 2,753 | 24,630 | |
| 2008 | 4,090 | 27,541 | |
| 2009 | 3,924 | 25,350 | |
| 2010 | 6,781 | 32,867 | |
| 2011 | 7,403 | 54,011 | |
| 2012 | 6,062 | 35,068 | |
| 2013 | 6,385 | 43,546 | |
| 2014 | 9,928 | 68,819 | |
| 2015 | 5,318 | 41,020 | |
| 2016 | 12,336 | 72,372 | |
| 2017 | 17,389 | 171,538 | |
| 2018 | 15,183 | 120,143 | |
| Primary loss 2002-2018 | 113,948 | ||
| Tree cover loss 2001-2018 | 818,286 | ||
| Primary loss/ Total tree cover loss | 13.9% | ||
| Percent loss 2001-2018 | 6.0% | ||
| Loss/year (2001/2-2010) | 3,771.59 | 25,531 | |
| Loss/year (2011-2018) | 10,000.49 | 75,815 |
Biodiversity data: Nigeria
Species count by taxa for Nigeria. For consistency, all data for a given group comes from a single source. Amphibians - amphibiaweb; Reptiles - reptile-database; Fish - fishbase; Birds - birdlife; Mammals - IUCN; and Plants - World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-WCMC).| Animal / plant group | Species count |
|---|---|
| Birds | 864 |
| Amphibians | 117 |
| Reptiles | 203 |
| Fishes | 775 |
| Mammals | 285 |
| Vascular plants | 4715 |
Conservation data: Nigeria
Data on threatened species in Nigeria as of 2018, according to the IUCN Red List.| Taxa | Species count |
|---|---|
| Threatened mammals (2018) | 31 |
| Threatened birds (2018) | 21 |
| Threatened fishes (2018) | 74 |
| Threatened higher plants (2018) | 205 |
Protected areas data: Nigeria
Data on threatened species in Nigeria as of 2017, according to the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) maintained by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).| Protected areas (2017) | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Terrestrial protected areas, % of total land area | 13.9 |
| Marine protected areas, % of territorial waters |
Tree cover loss data for Nigeria
"Tree cover threshold" is used for defining the tree cover area. For example, 75% includes only areas with more than 75% tree cover, whereas 10% includes all areas with more than 10% tree cover. 75% tree cover reflects a dense canopy.
| Tree cover threshold (%) | Total area (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2000 (ha) | % land area | Tree cover Extent in 2010 (ha) | % land area | Tree cover Extent in 2018 (ha) | % land area | Tree cover loss 2001-2018 (ha) | % tree cover loss since 2000 | Avg tree cover loss/year (ha) | Avg loss/year 2001-2010 (ha) | Avg loss/year 2011-2018 (ha) |
| 10 | 91056311 | 42681528 | 46.90% | 39469212 | 43.30% | 37807400 | 41.50% | 2371398 | 5.60% | 131744 | 70959 | 207727 |
| 15 | 91056311 | 26765918 | 29.40% | 26817084 | 29.50% | 25364301 | 27.90% | 2044442 | 7.60% | 113580 | 59166 | 181598 |
| 20 | 91056311 | 14014896 | 15.40% | 15820212 | 17.40% | 14908049 | 16.40% | 1258307 | 9.00% | 69906 | 34614 | 114020 |
| 25 | 91056311 | 12976267 | 14.30% | 14598940 | 16.00% | 13756499 | 15.10% | 1164648 | 9.00% | 64703 | 32221 | 105305 |
| 30 | 91056311 | 10077588 | 11.10% | 10966046 | 12.00% | 10359529 | 11.40% | 860465 | 8.50% | 47804 | 25395 | 75815 |
| 50 | 91056311 | 4738155 | 5.20% | 4501315 | 4.90% | 4272972 | 4.70% | 351624 | 7.40% | 19535 | 12328 | 28543 |
| 75 | 91056311 | 316161 | 0.30% | 359811 | 0.40% | 353485 | 0.40% | 18254 | 5.80% | 1014 | 1193 | 791 |
Biomass and land use carbon emissions data for Nigeria
"Tree cover threshold" is used for defining the tree cover area. For example, 75% includes only areas with more than 75% tree cover, whereas 10% includes all areas with more than 10% tree cover. 75% tree cover reflects a dense canopy.
| Tree cover threshold (%) | Total area (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2000 (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2010 (ha) | Carbon biomass (Mt) | Biomass loss 2001-18 (Mt) | Avg biomass loss/year (Mt) | Carbon emissions 2001-18 (Mt) | Avg carbon emissions/year (Mt) |
| 10 | 91056311 | 42681528 | 39469212 | 6305695954 | 220383607 | 12243534 | 404036627 | 22446479 |
| 15 | 91056311 | 26765918 | 26817084 | 4847174888 | 203401224 | 11300068 | 372902256 | 20716792 |
| 20 | 91056311 | 14014896 | 15820212 | 3213362415 | 144936896 | 8052050 | 265717650 | 14762092 |
| 25 | 91056311 | 12976267 | 14598940 | 3049801330 | 137165111 | 7620284 | 251469428 | 13970524 |
| 30 | 91056311 | 10077588 | 10966046 | 2571614087 | 109738753 | 6096597 | 201187712 | 11177095 |
| 50 | 91056311 | 4738155 | 4501315 | 1441551232 | 53871793 | 2992877 | 98764986 | 5486944 |
| 75 | 91056311 | 316161 | 359811 | 124801162 | 3916887 | 217605 | 7180957 | 398942 |
Tree cover data for subnational administrative areas in Nigeria
"This data is based on a definition of 30% tree cover. Areas with less than 30% canopy cover are excluded.
| Administrative area | Total area (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2000 (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2010 (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2018 (ha) | % cover in 2018 | Loss 2001-2018 (ha) | % loss since 2000 | Avg loss/year since 2000 (ha) | Loss 2001-2010 (ha) | loss between 2000-2010 | Avg loss/year 2001-2010 (ha) | Loss 2011-2018 (ha) | loss between 2011-2018 | Avg loss/year 2011-2018 (ha) |
| Abia | 474749 | 113825 | 172059 | 163253 | 34% | 14259 | 13% | 792 | 5453 | 5% | 545 | 8806 | 5% | 1,101 |
| Adamawa | 3436060 | 97370 | 122688 | 122328 | 4% | 1085 | 1% | 60 | 725 | 1% | 73 | 360 | 0% | 45 |
| Akwa Ibom | 677883 | 121558 | 245595 | 242394 | 36% | 7365 | 6% | 409 | 4164 | 3% | 416 | 3201 | 1% | 400 |
| Anambra | 461489 | 33744 | 47160 | 46428 | 10% | 1166 | 3% | 65 | 434 | 1% | 43 | 732 | 2% | 92 |
| Bauchi | 4913859 | 900 | 2157 | 2157 | 0% | 1 | 0% | - | 1 | 0% | - | 0 | 0% | - |
| Bayelsa | 982992 | 825223 | 749884 | 738599 | 75% | 16104 | 2% | 895 | 4819 | 1% | 482 | 11285 | 2% | 1,411 |
| Benue | 3139667 | 55487 | 73636 | 71478 | 2% | 2571 | 5% | 143 | 413 | 1% | 41 | 2158 | 3% | 270 |
| Borno | 7152835 | 42 | 1693 | 1685 | 0% | 27 | 64% | 2 | 19 | 45% | 2 | 8 | 0% | 1 |
| Cross River | 2135340 | 1271765 | 1310561 | 1251898 | 59% | 77841 | 6% | 4,325 | 19178 | 2% | 1,918 | 58663 | 4% | 7,333 |
| Delta | 1671713 | 990286 | 915786 | 878103 | 53% | 55467 | 6% | 3,082 | 17784 | 2% | 1,778 | 37683 | 4% | 4,710 |
| Ebonyi | 621182 | 15079 | 29660 | 28443 | 5% | 1687 | 11% | 94 | 470 | 3% | 47 | 1217 | 4% | 152 |
| Edo | 1964103 | 1046052 | 977983 | 817870 | 42% | 227051 | 22% | 12,614 | 66938 | 6% | 6,694 | 160113 | 16% | 20,014 |
| Ekiti | 525983 | 405263 | 410673 | 380776 | 72% | 34493 | 9% | 1,916 | 4596 | 1% | 460 | 29897 | 7% | 3,737 |
| Enugu | 773245 | 62908 | 116679 | 115549 | 15% | 1701 | 3% | 95 | 571 | 1% | 57 | 1130 | 1% | 141 |
| Federal Capital Territory | 737049 | 15972 | 22696 | 21368 | 3% | 2494 | 16% | 139 | 1166 | 7% | 117 | 1328 | 6% | 166 |
| Gombe | 1822355 | 2 | 2028 | 2028 | 0% | 1 | 50% | - | 1 | 50% | - | 0 | 0% | - |
| Imo | 533856 | 101374 | 148939 | 143901 | 27% | 13433 | 13% | 746 | 8395 | 8% | 840 | 5038 | 3% | 630 |
| Jigawa | 2406690 | 2 | 329 | 329 | 0% | 0 | 0% | - | 0 | 0% | - | 0 | 0% | - |
| Kaduna | 4439688 | 5478 | 13505 | 13402 | 0% | 286 | 5% | 16 | 183 | 3% | 18 | 103 | 1% | 13 |
| Kano | 2015908 | 2 | 105 | 105 | 0% | 0 | 0% | - | 0 | 0% | - | 0 | 0% | - |
| Katsina | 2378150 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 10 | 100% | 1 | 10 | 100% | 1 | 0 | - | |
| Kebbi | 3604409 | 166 | 138 | 136 | 0% | 158 | 95% | 9 | 156 | 94% | 16 | 2 | 1% | - |
| Kogi | 2900939 | 257431 | 331599 | 303648 | 10% | 40069 | 16% | 2,226 | 12118 | 5% | 1,212 | 27951 | 8% | 3,494 |
| Kwara | 3547840 | 104935 | 154913 | 137744 | 4% | 23474 | 22% | 1,304 | 6305 | 6% | 631 | 17169 | 11% | 2,146 |
| Lagos | 380570 | 69746 | 116791 | 109068 | 29% | 9983 | 14% | 555 | 2260 | 3% | 226 | 7723 | 7% | 965 |
| Nassarawa | 2637364 | 11864 | 51012 | 49837 | 2% | 2921 | 25% | 162 | 1746 | 15% | 175 | 1175 | 2% | 147 |
| Niger | 7113585 | 15161 | 26440 | 21602 | 0% | 10317 | 68% | 573 | 5479 | 36% | 548 | 4838 | 18% | 605 |
| Ogun | 1613746 | 483023 | 592777 | 548579 | 34% | 66715 | 14% | 3,706 | 22517 | 5% | 2,252 | 44198 | 7% | 5,525 |
| Ondo | 1457059 | 1035195 | 1021074 | 956485 | 66% | 90219 | 9% | 5,012 | 25630 | 2% | 2,563 | 64589 | 6% | 8,074 |
| Osun | 923563 | 698881 | 694219 | 664831 | 72% | 35156 | 5% | 1,953 | 5768 | 1% | 577 | 29388 | 4% | 3,674 |
| Oyo | 2747065 | 296074 | 510906 | 487449 | 18% | 32922 | 11% | 1,829 | 9465 | 3% | 947 | 23457 | 5% | 2,932 |
| Plateau | 2763307 | 8281 | 16436 | 16325 | 1% | 154 | 2% | 9 | 43 | 1% | 4 | 111 | 1% | 14 |
| Rivers | 861334 | 396530 | 443230 | 428543 | 50% | 18724 | 5% | 1,040 | 4037 | 1% | 404 | 14687 | 3% | 1,836 |
| Sokoto | 3180781 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 0% | 4 | 100% | - | 4 | 100% | - | 0 | 0% | - |
| Taraba | 6037977 | 1537897 | 1641885 | 1592384 | 26% | 72556 | 5% | 4,031 | 23055 | 1% | 2,306 | 49501 | 3% | 6,188 |
| Yobe | 4563730 | 26 | 106 | 103 | 0% | 26 | 100% | 1 | 23 | 88% | 2 | 3 | 3% | - |
| Zamfara | 3458246 | 32 | 695 | 692 | 0% | 25 | 78% | 1 | 22 | 69% | 2 | 3 | 0% | - |
Carbon dioxide emissions data for subnational administrative areas in Nigeria
"This data is based on a definition of 30% tree cover. Areas with less than 30% canopy cover are excluded.
| Administrative area | Total area (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2000 (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2010 (ha) | Carbon biomass (Mt) | Carbon emissions 2001-18 (Mt) | Avg carbon emissions/year 2001-18 (Mt) | Avg carbon emissions/year 2001-10 (Mt) | Avg carbon emissions/year 2011-18 (Mt) |
| Abia | 474749 | 113825 | 172059 | 24699052 | 2829678 | 157204 | 115839 | 208912 |
| Adamawa | 3436060 | 97370 | 122688 | 20890120 | 305859 | 16992 | 23009 | 9472 |
| Akwa Ibom | 677883 | 121558 | 245595 | 32545685 | 1667749 | 92653 | 94742 | 90041 |
| Anambra | 461489 | 33744 | 47160 | 7486100 | 247795 | 13766 | 9503 | 19096 |
| Bauchi | 4913859 | 900 | 2157 | 182113 | 909 | 51 | 80 | 14 |
| Bayelsa | 982992 | 825223 | 749884 | 291254809 | 5613671 | 311871 | 169542 | 489782 |
| Benue | 3139667 | 55487 | 73636 | 10677924 | 493973 | 27443 | 9233 | 50205 |
| Borno | 7152835 | 42 | 1693 | 6267 | 4253 | 236 | 304 | 152 |
| Cross River | 2135340 | 1271765 | 1310561 | 387897697 | 21302482 | 1183471 | 539357 | 1988614 |
| Delta | 1671713 | 990286 | 915786 | 293133942 | 13425316 | 745851 | 480211 | 1077901 |
| Ebonyi | 621182 | 15079 | 29660 | 3210341 | 330652 | 18370 | 9956 | 28887 |
| Edo | 1964103 | 1046052 | 977983 | 236769976 | 52565330 | 2920296 | 1790983 | 4331938 |
| Ekiti | 525983 | 405263 | 410673 | 90435248 | 7485567 | 415865 | 107515 | 801303 |
| Enugu | 773245 | 62908 | 116679 | 12046852 | 323820 | 17990 | 11095 | 26609 |
| Federal Capital Territory | 737049 | 15972 | 22696 | 3660417 | 580805 | 32267 | 27792 | 37861 |
| Gombe | 1822355 | 2 | 2028 | 308 | 270 | 15 | 27 | 0 |
| Imo | 533856 | 101374 | 148939 | 21326440 | 2442383 | 135688 | 157414 | 108530 |
| Jigawa | 2406690 | 2 | 329 | 511 | 137 | 8 | 14 | 0 |
| Kaduna | 4439688 | 5478 | 13505 | 1240263 | 66167 | 3676 | 4294 | 2904 |
| Kano | 2015908 | 2 | 105 | 596 | 45 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Katsina | 2378150 | 10 | 0 | 1835 | 1835 | 102 | 180 | 5 |
| Kebbi | 3604409 | 166 | 138 | 36115 | 34872 | 1937 | 3417 | 87 |
| Kogi | 2900939 | 257431 | 331599 | 59605443 | 9678293 | 537683 | 314481 | 816685 |
| Kwara | 3547840 | 104935 | 154913 | 22806934 | 5290927 | 293940 | 153530 | 469454 |
| Lagos | 380570 | 69746 | 116791 | 15660571 | 2220952 | 123386 | 53011 | 211356 |
| Nassarawa | 2637364 | 11864 | 51012 | 2606213 | 626992 | 34833 | 37614 | 31356 |
| Niger | 7113585 | 15161 | 26440 | 3259014 | 2204835 | 122491 | 119392 | 126364 |
| Ogun | 1613746 | 483023 | 592777 | 105721733 | 14496158 | 805342 | 526029 | 1154484 |
| Ondo | 1457059 | 1035195 | 1021074 | 235927922 | 21340574 | 1185587 | 645393 | 1860830 |
| Osun | 923563 | 698881 | 694219 | 159033652 | 7630994 | 423944 | 134794 | 785382 |
| Oyo | 2747065 | 296074 | 510906 | 61455934 | 6981668 | 387870 | 215047 | 603900 |
| Plateau | 2763307 | 8281 | 16436 | 1907198 | 38180 | 2121 | 1105 | 3392 |
| Rivers | 861334 | 396530 | 443230 | 120645545 | 4507569 | 250421 | 102278 | 435599 |
| Sokoto | 3180781 | 4 | 9 | 839 | 840 | 47 | 81 | 4 |
| Taraba | 6037977 | 1537897 | 1641885 | 345466605 | 16433385 | 912966 | 560022 | 1354146 |
| Yobe | 4563730 | 26 | 106 | 6952 | 6727 | 374 | 574 | 124 |
| Zamfara | 3458246 | 32 | 695 | 6921 | 6050 | 336 | 539 | 83 |
Biomass data for subnational administrative areas in Nigeria
This data is based on a definition of 30% tree cover. Areas with less than 30% canopy cover are excluded.
| Administrative area | Total area (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2000 (ha) | Tree cover Extent in 2010 (ha) | Carbon biomass (Mt) | Avg biomass per ha (Mt) | Carbon emissions 2001-18 (Mt) | Avg annual emissions 2001-18 (Mt) | Avg annual emissions 2001-10 (Mt) | Avg annual emissions 2011-18 (Mt) |
| Abia | 474749 | 113825 | 172059 | 13472211 | 118 | 1543473 | 85749 | 63186 | 113952 |
| Adamawa | 3436060 | 97370 | 122688 | 11394609 | 117 | 166833 | 9269 | 12550 | 5167 |
| Akwa Ibom | 677883 | 121558 | 245595 | 17752189 | 146 | 909674 | 50537 | 51678 | 49112 |
| Anambra | 461489 | 33744 | 47160 | 4083325 | 121 | 135160 | 7509 | 5183 | 10416 |
| Bauchi | 4913859 | 900 | 2157 | 99332 | 110 | 496 | 28 | 44 | 8 |
| Bayelsa | 982992 | 825223 | 749884 | 158866259 | 192 | 3062006 | 170111 | 92478 | 267154 |
| Benue | 3139667 | 55487 | 73636 | 5824323 | 105 | 269443 | 14969 | 5037 | 27385 |
| Borno | 7152835 | 42 | 1693 | 3418 | 80 | 2319 | 129 | 166 | 83 |
| Cross River | 2135340 | 1271765 | 1310561 | 211580564 | 166 | 11619536 | 645530 | 294195 | 1084698 |
| Delta | 1671713 | 990286 | 915786 | 159891241 | 161 | 7322904 | 406828 | 261934 | 587946 |
| Ebonyi | 621182 | 15079 | 29660 | 1751094 | 116 | 180355 | 10020 | 5431 | 15756 |
| Edo | 1964103 | 1046052 | 977983 | 129147259 | 123 | 28672000 | 1592889 | 976899 | 2362876 |
| Ekiti | 525983 | 405263 | 410673 | 49328314 | 122 | 4083041 | 226836 | 58644 | 437075 |
| Enugu | 773245 | 62908 | 116679 | 6571012 | 105 | 176625 | 9813 | 6052 | 14513 |
| Federal Capital Territory | 737049 | 15972 | 22696 | 1996590 | 125 | 316805 | 17600 | 15159 | 20652 |
| Gombe | 1822355 | 2 | 2028 | 169 | 89 | 148 | 8 | 15 | 0 |
| Imo | 533856 | 101374 | 148939 | 11632604 | 115 | 1332219 | 74012 | 85863 | 59198 |
| Jigawa | 2406690 | 2 | 329 | 279 | 87 | 74 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Kaduna | 4439688 | 5478 | 13505 | 676508 | 123 | 36092 | 2005 | 2342 | 1584 |
| Kano | 2015908 | 2 | 105 | 324 | 124 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Katsina | 2378150 | 10 | 0 | 1001 | 100 | 1002 | 56 | 98 | 3 |
| Kebbi | 3604409 | 166 | 138 | 19700 | 118 | 19026 | 1057 | 1865 | 48 |
| Kogi | 2900939 | 257431 | 331599 | 32512059 | 126 | 5279072 | 293282 | 171536 | 445464 |
| Kwara | 3547840 | 104935 | 154913 | 12440146 | 118 | 2885954 | 160331 | 83743 | 256065 |
| Lagos | 380570 | 69746 | 116791 | 8542131 | 123 | 1211435 | 67302 | 28916 | 115285 |
| Nassarawa | 2637364 | 11864 | 51012 | 1421571 | 120 | 341990 | 18999 | 20517 | 17103 |
| Niger | 7113585 | 15161 | 26440 | 1777642 | 118 | 1202637 | 66813 | 65123 | 68927 |
| Ogun | 1613746 | 483023 | 592777 | 57666401 | 119 | 7906994 | 439277 | 286925 | 629719 |
| Ondo | 1457059 | 1035195 | 1021074 | 128687958 | 124 | 11640321 | 646685 | 352033 | 1014999 |
| Osun | 923563 | 698881 | 694219 | 86745629 | 124 | 4162356 | 231242 | 73524 | 428390 |
| Oyo | 2747065 | 296074 | 510906 | 33521421 | 113 | 3808165 | 211565 | 117297 | 329400 |
| Plateau | 2763307 | 8281 | 16436 | 1040291 | 126 | 20825 | 1157 | 602 | 1850 |
| Rivers | 861334 | 396530 | 443230 | 65806659 | 166 | 2458667 | 136593 | 55787 | 237599 |
| Sokoto | 3180781 | 4 | 9 | 457 | 110 | 458 | 25 | 44 | 2 |
| Taraba | 6037977 | 1537897 | 1641885 | 188436329 | 123 | 8963653 | 497981 | 305466 | 738625 |
| Yobe | 4563730 | 26 | 106 | 3792 | 145 | 3670 | 204 | 313 | 68 |
| Zamfara | 3458246 | 32 | 695 | 3774 | 117 | 3300 | 183 | 294 | 45 |
Archived forest data for Nigeria | Forest data for Nigeria
Data Source: Tree cover loss: Hansen/UMD/Google/USGS/NASA via Global Forest Watch. Administrative boundaries: Global Administrative Areas database (GADM), version 3.6.
Citation: Mongabay. "Deforestation statistics for [selected country name]". Accessed on [date] from worldrainforests.com.
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