Forest area in Brazil
Brazil: Forest area was 4.93 million sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Forest area in Brazil, 1990–2023
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
Brazil recorded 4.93 million sq. km for forest area in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Brazil peaked at 5.89 million sq. km in 1990 and was at its lowest, 4.93 million sq. km, in 2023.
Brazil ranks 2nd of 214 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Forest area in Brazil, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.89 million sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 5.85 million sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 5.81 million sq. km | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 5.78 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 5.74 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 5.70 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 5.66 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 5.62 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 5.59 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 5.55 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 5.51 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 5.47 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 5.43 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 5.39 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 5.35 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 5.31 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 5.27 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 5.23 million sq. km | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 5.19 million sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 5.16 million sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 5.12 million sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 5.10 million sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 5.09 million sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 5.07 million sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 5.05 million sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 5.04 million sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 5.02 million sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 5.00 million sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 4.99 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 4.98 million sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 4.97 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 4.95 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 4.94 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 4.93 million sq. km | -0.2% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 4.93 million sq. km is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 23,056 sq. km, 213.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 4.93 million sq. km is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 9,261 sq. km, 532.3× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.72 million sq. km | 5.55 million sq. km | 5.89 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.33 million sq. km | 5.16 million sq. km | 5.51 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.05 million sq. km | 4.98 million sq. km | 5.12 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.95 million sq. km | 4.93 million sq. km | 4.97 million sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More agriculture & rural data for Brazil
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0609 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 652.04 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1182 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.1% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.1% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 5.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Brazil?
- Forest area in Brazil was 4.93 million sq. km in 2023, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 5.89 million sq. km in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.93 million sq. km in 2023.
- How does Brazil rank for forest area?
- Brazil ranks 2nd out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Brazil data come from?
- The figures come from FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Forest area (sq. km). 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.