Forest area (sq. km) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Forest area (sq. km) was 32,780 sq. km in 2025. ▲ Rising
Forest area in United Kingdom, 1990–2025
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 32,780 sq. km for forest area in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in United Kingdom peaked at 32,780 sq. km in 2025 and was at its lowest, 27,780 sq. km, in 1990.
That places United Kingdom 87th out of 214 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 27,780 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 27,956 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 28,132 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 28,308 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 28,484 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 28,660 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 28,836 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 29,012 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 29,188 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 29,364 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 29,540 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 29,645 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 29,750 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 29,855 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 29,960 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 30,065 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 30,170 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 30,275 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 30,380 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 30,485 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 30,590 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 30,782 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 30,974 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 31,166 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 31,358 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 31,550 sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 31,670 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 31,790 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 31,910 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 32,030 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 32,150 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 32,276 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 32,402 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 32,528 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 32,654 sq. km | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 32,780 sq. km | +0.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 32,780 sq. km is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,361 sq. km, 7.5× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 32,780 sq. km is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 21,247 sq. km, 1.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28,572 sq. km | 27,780 sq. km | 29,364 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,012 sq. km | 29,540 sq. km | 30,485 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 31,382 sq. km | 30,590 sq. km | 32,030 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,465 sq. km | 32,150 sq. km | 32,780 sq. km | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More agriculture & rural data for United Kingdom
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.2731 % 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 0.0861 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.8055 % 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 0.2384 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0064 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 368.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1852 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in United Kingdom?
- Forest area in United Kingdom was 32,780 sq. km in 2025, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 32,780 sq. km in 2025.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 27,780 sq. km in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for forest area?
- United Kingdom ranks 87th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.