Forest area in World
World: Forest area was 40.35 million sq. km in 2023. ▬ Flat
Forest area in World, 1992–2023
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
World recorded 40.35 million sq. km for forest area in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 32 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in World peaked at 41.70 million sq. km in 1993 and was at its lowest, 40.35 million sq. km, in 2023.
That places World 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Forest area in World, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 41.53 million sq. km | — |
| 1993 | 41.70 million sq. km | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 41.62 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 41.55 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 41.47 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 41.39 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 41.32 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 41.24 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 41.17 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 41.12 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 41.07 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 41.02 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 40.97 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 40.92 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 40.90 million sq. km | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 40.85 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 40.80 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 40.75 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 40.70 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 40.66 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 40.88 million sq. km | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 40.84 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 40.79 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 40.75 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 40.72 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 40.65 million sq. km | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 40.60 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 40.55 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 40.50 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 40.45 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 40.40 million sq. km | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 40.35 million sq. km | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.48 million sq. km | 41.24 million sq. km | 41.70 million sq. km | 8 |
| 2000s | 40.96 million sq. km | 40.75 million sq. km | 41.17 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.71 million sq. km | 40.55 million sq. km | 40.88 million sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.42 million sq. km | 40.35 million sq. km | 40.50 million sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near World
More agriculture & rural data for World
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0401 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 577.68 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.2984 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4217 units per person (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.2% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.2% (2024)
- Rural population 42.2% (2025)
- Rural population growth 0.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in World?
- Forest area in World was 40.35 million sq. km in 2023, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 41.70 million sq. km in 1993.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.35 million sq. km in 2023.
- How does World rank for forest area?
- World ranks 1st out of 47 groups with data for 2023.
- Is forest area rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this World 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.