The bar graph illustrates the proportions of land areas affected by desertification across four different regions – North America, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Australia – between 1990 and 2010.
Overall, Sub-Saharan Africa experienced the highest rates of desertification, whereas Europe recorded the lowest figures. By contrast, the land area affected in North America and Australia remained relatively stable with minor shifts over the period.
To begin with, the Sub-Saharan Africa region registered the highest figure at about 35% in 2010, compared to 25% in 1990, marking a substantial rise. In the North America region, meanwhile, the figure stood at approximately 12% in 1990 before reaching 15% in 2010. However, Europe followed a different pattern, with its proportion moving from 8% to 12% in 2010.
Turning to the remaining figures, the percentage of land area affected by desertification in Australia experienced a modest shift, changing from around 15% in 1990 to roughly 13% in 2010. In contrast, Europe remained the least affected region despite its slight increase over the twenty-year period.