Forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Forest area was 153.82 million hectares in 2011. ▬ Flat
Forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1990–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2011, forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 153.82 million hectares. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 160.36 million hectares in 1990 and was at its lowest, 153.82 million hectares, in 2011.
Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 1st of 53 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 160.36 million hectares | — |
| 1991 | 160.05 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 159.74 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 159.43 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 159.12 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 158.81 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 158.50 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 158.18 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 157.87 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 157.56 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 157.25 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 156.94 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 156.63 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 156.31 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 156.00 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 155.69 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 155.38 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 155.07 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 154.76 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 154.45 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 154.13 million hectares | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 153.82 million hectares | -0.2% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 153.82 million hectares is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.94 million hectares, 31.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 153.82 million hectares is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.59 million hectares, 27.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 158.96 million hectares | 157.56 million hectares | 160.36 million hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 155.85 million hectares | 154.45 million hectares | 157.25 million hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 153.98 million hectares | 153.82 million hectares | 154.13 million hectares | 2 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More agriculture & rural data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2023)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0893 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 6.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 8.13 billion current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 8.9% (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 8.9% (2025)
- Rural population 61.93 million (2025)
- Rural population 54.9% (2025)
- Rural population growth 2.5% (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Forest area in Democratic Republic of Congo was 153.82 million hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 160.36 million hectares in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 153.82 million hectares in 2011.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for forest area?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 1st out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site, published as part of Forest area (hectares). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Forest area is land under natural or planted stands of trees of at least 5 meters in situ, whether productive or not, and excludes tree stands in agricultural production systems (for example, in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems) and trees in urban parks and gardens.