Forest area in Australia
Australia: Forest area was 17.4% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Forest area in Australia, 1990–2023
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in % of land area.
Analysis
In 2023, forest area in Australia stood at 17.4%.
The figure is up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Australia peaked at 17.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 2010.
Australia ranks 137th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Forest area in Australia, year by year
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 17.4% | — |
| 1991 | 17.4% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 17.4% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 17.3% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 17.3% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 17.3% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 17.3% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 17.2% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 17.2% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 17.2% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 17.2% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 17.1% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 17.1% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 17.1% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 17.0% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 17.0% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 17.0% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 17.0% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 16.9% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 16.9% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 16.9% | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 17.0% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 17.0% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 17.1% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 17.2% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 17.3% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 17.4% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 17.4% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 17.4% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 17.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 17.4% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 17.4% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 17.4% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 17.4% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17.3% | 17.2% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.0% | 16.9% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.2% | 16.9% | 17.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.4% | 17.4% | 17.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More agriculture & rural data for Australia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0227 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,476 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5855 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1228 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Australia?
- Forest area in Australia was 17.4% in 2023, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 17.4% in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 2010.
- How does Australia rank for forest area?
- Australia ranks 137th out of 213 countries with data for 2023.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Forest area (% of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Forest area (% of land area) is the share of total land area that is 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.