Forest area (sq. km) in Ireland
Ireland: Forest area (sq. km) was 8,328 sq. km in 2025. ▲ Rising
Forest area in Ireland, 1990–2025
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area in Ireland is 8,328 sq. km, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Ireland peaked at 8,328 sq. km in 2025 and was at its lowest, 4,616 sq. km, in 1990.
Ireland ranks 131st of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Forest area (sq. km) in Ireland, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 4,616 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 4,785 sq. km | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 4,954 sq. km | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 5,123 sq. km | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 5,291 sq. km | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 5,460 sq. km | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 5,629 sq. km | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 5,797 sq. km | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 5,966 sq. km | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 6,135 sq. km | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 6,304 sq. km | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 6,394 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 6,484 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 6,574 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 6,664 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 6,754 sq. km | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 6,844 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 6,934 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 7,024 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 7,114 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 7,204 sq. km | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 7,272 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 7,341 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 7,410 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 7,478 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 7,547 sq. km | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 7,624 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 7,701 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 7,779 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 7,856 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 7,933 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 8,012 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 8,091 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 8,170 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 8,249 sq. km | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 8,328 sq. km | +1.0% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 8,328 sq. km is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,361 sq. km, 1.9× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 8,328 sq. km is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 21,247 sq. km, 39% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5,376 sq. km | 4,616 sq. km | 6,135 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,709 sq. km | 6,304 sq. km | 7,114 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,521 sq. km | 7,204 sq. km | 7,856 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,131 sq. km | 7,933 sq. km | 8,328 sq. km | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More agriculture & rural data for Ireland
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.388 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0796 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.7634 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 22.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0106 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,391 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.9559 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Ireland?
- Forest area in Ireland was 8,328 sq. km in 2025, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 8,328 sq. km in 2025.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,616 sq. km in 1990.
- How does Ireland rank for forest area?
- Ireland ranks 131st out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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.