Forest area in South Korea
South Korea: Forest area was 62,570 sq. km in 2023. ▬ Flat
Forest area in South Korea, 1990–2023
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 62,570 sq. km for forest area in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in South Korea peaked at 65,510 sq. km in 1990 and was at its lowest, 62,570 sq. km, in 2023.
South Korea ranks 67th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Forest area in South Korea, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 65,510 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 65,435 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 65,360 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 65,285 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 65,210 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 65,135 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 65,060 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 64,985 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 64,910 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 64,835 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 64,760 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 64,671 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 64,582 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 64,493 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 64,404 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 64,315 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 64,226 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 64,137 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 64,048 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 63,959 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 63,870 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 63,770 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 63,670 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 63,570 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 63,470 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 63,370 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 63,250 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 63,170 sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 63,070 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 62,970 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 62,870 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 62,770 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 62,670 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 62,570 sq. km | -0.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 62,570 sq. km is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,978 sq. km, 12.6× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 62,570 sq. km is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11,601 sq. km, 5.4× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65,172 sq. km | 64,835 sq. km | 65,510 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 64,360 sq. km | 63,959 sq. km | 64,760 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 63,418 sq. km | 62,970 sq. km | 63,870 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 62,720 sq. km | 62,570 sq. km | 62,870 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More agriculture & rural data for South Korea
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 0.2516 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0146 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 530.46 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1591 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1883 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in South Korea?
- Forest area in South Korea was 62,570 sq. km in 2023, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 65,510 sq. km in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 62,570 sq. km in 2023.
- How does South Korea rank for forest area?
- South Korea ranks 67th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is forest area rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea 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.