Forest area (sq. km) in Laos
Laos: Forest area (sq. km) was 130,360 sq. km in 2025. ▼ Falling
Forest area in Laos, 1990–2025
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
In 2025, forest area in Laos stood at 130,360 sq. km. That is the lowest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Laos peaked at 143,993 sq. km in 1990 and was at its lowest, 130,360 sq. km, in 2025.
Laos ranks 46th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Forest area (sq. km) in Laos, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 143,993 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 143,644 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 143,294 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 142,945 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 142,596 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 142,247 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 141,897 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 141,548 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 141,199 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 140,850 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 140,500 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 140,111 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 139,722 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 139,332 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 138,943 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 138,553 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 138,164 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 137,774 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 137,385 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 136,995 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 136,606 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 136,024 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 135,441 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 134,859 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 134,276 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 133,694 sq. km | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 133,381 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 133,067 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 132,754 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 132,440 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 132,127 sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 131,774 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 131,420 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 131,067 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 130,714 sq. km | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 130,360 sq. km | -0.3% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 130,360 sq. km is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37,741 sq. km, 3.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 130,360 sq. km is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 11,366 sq. km, 11.5× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 142,421 sq. km | 140,850 sq. km | 143,993 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 138,748 sq. km | 136,995 sq. km | 140,500 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 134,254 sq. km | 132,440 sq. km | 136,606 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 131,244 sq. km | 130,360 sq. km | 132,127 sq. km | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More agriculture & rural data for Laos
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1874 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.8289 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0001 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2734 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 9.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1662 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 386.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.0583 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Laos?
- Forest area in Laos was 130,360 sq. km in 2025, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 143,993 sq. km in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 130,360 sq. km in 2025.
- How does Laos rank for forest area?
- Laos ranks 46th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Laos 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.