Forest area in Rwanda
Rwanda: Forest area was 2,790 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Forest area in Rwanda, 1990–2023
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area in Rwanda is 2,790 sq. km, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Rwanda peaked at 3,170 sq. km in 1990 and was at its lowest, 2,650 sq. km, in 2010.
That places Rwanda 152nd out of 214 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Forest area in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,170 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 3,140 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 3,110 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 3,080 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 3,050 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 3,020 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 2,990 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 1997 | 2,960 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 2,930 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 2,900 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 2,870 sq. km | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 2,848 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 2,826 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 2,804 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 2,782 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 2,760 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 2,738 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 2,716 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 2,694 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 2,672 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 2,650 sq. km | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 2,660 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 2,670 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 2,680 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 2,690 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 2,700 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 2,720 sq. km | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 2,730 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 2,740 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 2,750 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 2,760 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 2,770 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 2,780 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 2,790 sq. km | +0.4% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 2,790 sq. km is below the median for low income countries, which is 39,804 sq. km, 7% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 2,790 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59,081 sq. km, 5% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3,035 sq. km | 2,900 sq. km | 3,170 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,771 sq. km | 2,672 sq. km | 2,870 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,699 sq. km | 2,650 sq. km | 2,750 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,775 sq. km | 2,760 sq. km | 2,790 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 149 United Arab Emirates 3,173 sq. km compare
- 150 Mauritania 2,964 sq. km compare
- 151 Burundi 2,796 sq. km compare
- 153 Trinidad and Tobago 2,269 sq. km compare
- 154 Gambia 2,255 sq. km compare
- 155 Libya 2,170 sq. km compare
More agriculture & rural data for Rwanda
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 5.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.203 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 228.16 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.6953 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0006 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6909 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 20.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 20.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Rwanda?
- Forest area in Rwanda was 2,790 sq. km in 2023, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 3,170 sq. km in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,650 sq. km in 2010.
- How does Rwanda rank for forest area?
- Rwanda ranks 152nd out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.