Which has higher forest area km, Finland or South Africa?

South Africa, at 22.88 million against 22.54 million in Finland as of 2025.

What is the difference in forest area km between Finland and South Africa?

338,400, with South Africa ahead.

36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.

Our World in Data, published as Forest area km. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Finland

22.54 million

in 2025

South Africa

22.88 million

in 2025

Finland rank

29th

South Africa rank

27th

South Africa currently reports 22.88 million against 22.54 million in Finland, a difference of 338,400.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 36 shared years of data; in 1990 it was Finland ahead.

Finland ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 27th of 235 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, Finland averaged higher in 3 and South Africa in 1.

Decade	Finland	South Africa	Difference	Ahead
1990s	22.13 million	20.21 million	1.92 million	Finland
2000s	22.35 million	21.09 million	1.27 million	Finland
2010s	22.39 million	21.96 million	423,720	Finland
2020s	22.54 million	22.66 million	119,517	South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Which has higher forest area km, Finland or South Africa?: South Africa, at 22.88 million against 22.54 million in Finland as of 2025.
What is the difference in forest area km between Finland and South Africa?: 338,400, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Finland and South Africa?: 36 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2025.
How do Finland and South Africa rank globally for forest area km?: Finland ranks 29th and South Africa ranks 27th of 235 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Our World in Data, published as Forest area km. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.