Forest area in France
France: Forest area was 175,032 sq. km in 2023. ▲ Rising
Forest area in France, 1990–2023
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
France recorded 175,032 sq. km for forest area in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in France peaked at 175,032 sq. km in 2023 and was at its lowest, 144,360 sq. km, in 1990.
France ranks 37th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Forest area in France, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 144,360 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 145,212 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 146,064 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 146,916 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 147,768 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 148,620 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 149,472 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 150,324 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 151,176 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 152,028 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 152,880 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 154,011 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 155,142 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 156,273 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 157,404 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 158,535 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 159,666 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 160,797 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 161,928 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 163,059 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 164,190 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 165,024 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 165,858 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 166,692 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 167,526 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 168,360 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 169,194 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 170,028 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 170,862 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 171,696 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 172,530 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 173,364 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 174,198 sq. km | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 175,032 sq. km | +0.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 175,032 sq. km is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,978 sq. km, 35.2× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- France's 175,032 sq. km is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 21,183 sq. km, 8.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 148,194 sq. km | 144,360 sq. km | 152,028 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 157,970 sq. km | 152,880 sq. km | 163,059 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 167,943 sq. km | 164,190 sq. km | 171,696 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 173,781 sq. km | 172,530 sq. km | 175,032 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
More agriculture & rural data for France
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 14.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.014 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 687.36 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.033 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2115 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.1% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in France?
- Forest area in France was 175,032 sq. km in 2023, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 175,032 sq. km in 2023.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 144,360 sq. km in 1990.
- How does France rank for forest area?
- France ranks 37th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is forest area rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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.