Forest area in Rwanda
Rwanda: Forest area was 445,000 hectares in 2011. ▲ Rising
Forest area in Rwanda, 1990–2011
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area in Rwanda is 445,000 hectares, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Rwanda peaked at 445,000 hectares in 2011 and was at its lowest, 318,000 hectares, in 1990.
That places Rwanda 41st out of 53 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Forest area in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 318,000 hectares | — |
| 1991 | 320,600 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 323,200 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 325,800 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 328,400 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 331,000 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 333,600 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 336,200 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 338,800 hectares | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 341,400 hectares | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 344,000 hectares | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 352,200 hectares | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 360,400 hectares | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 368,600 hectares | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 376,800 hectares | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 385,000 hectares | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 395,000 hectares | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 405,000 hectares | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 415,000 hectares | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 425,000 hectares | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 435,000 hectares | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 445,000 hectares | +2.3% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 445,000 hectares is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.94 million hectares, 9% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 445,000 hectares is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.59 million hectares, 8% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 329,700 hectares | 318,000 hectares | 341,400 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 382,700 hectares | 344,000 hectares | 425,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 440,000 hectares | 435,000 hectares | 445,000 hectares | 2 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
More agriculture & rural data for Rwanda
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.203 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 228.16 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6953 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6909 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 20.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 20.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Rwanda?
- Forest area in Rwanda was 445,000 hectares in 2011, according to Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 445,000 hectares in 2011.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 318,000 hectares in 1990.
- How does Rwanda rank for forest area?
- Rwanda ranks 41st out of 53 countries with data for 2011.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.
Download this data
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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.