Leading Nations by Total Forest Area

Forests cover approximately 4.07 billion hectares globally, representing 31% of the Earth’s total land area as of 2021. These vital ecosystems are not evenly distributed, with more than half of the world’s forests concentrated in just five countries.

Leading Nations by Total Forest Area

Russia dominates global forest rankings with an astounding 815.31 million hectares of forest, accounting for 20.1% of the world’s total forest area. Brazil follows with 494.2 million hectares (12.2%), while Canada ranks third with 346.85 million hectares (8.6%). The United States and China complete the top five with 309.8 million hectares (7.6%) and 223.7 million hectares (5.6%), respectively.

Countries with Highest Forest Coverage

Smaller nations often lead the rankings when examining forest area as a percentage of total land area. French Guiana has the highest proportion, with 96.6% of its territory covered by forests. Suriname (94.5%), Guyana (93.5%), Micronesia (92.1%), and Gabon (91.2%) follow closely. In Europe, Finland leads with 73.73% forest coverage, followed by Sweden (68.69%).

Forest Resources Per Capita

Suriname provides its citizens with the most generous forest resources at 258,111 square meters per capita, followed by Guyana with 214,788 square meters. Gabon, Canada, and Russia also offer substantial forest areas per person.

Global Trends and Concerns

Despite their importance, forests face significant threats worldwide. Between 2000 and 2020, Earth lost 101 million hectares of tree cover, with 92% of losses occurring in tropical and subtropical regions. This deforestation threatens biodiversity, carbon storage capacity, and the numerous ecosystem services that forests provide.