15.2.1 Forest area under an independently verified forest management certification scheme β Value by country
As the custodian agency of 22 SDG indicators, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is responsible for curating and refining the methodologies of these indicators, collecting data from national sources, ensuring their quality and compatibility with applicable standards and...
What the numbers show
15.2.1 Forest area under an independently verified forest management certification scheme β Value is currently reported for 249 countries. The highest value is 163,524 1000 ha in Canada; the lowest is 0 1000 ha in Chagos Archipelago.
The median across all reporting countries is 0 1000 ha, and the mean is 1,501 1000 ha.
Over the past decade 45 countries rose and 34 fell. The largest increase was in Ghana (up 1,027.9%), and the largest decrease in Belarus (down 100.0%).
15.2.1 Forest area under an independently verified forest management: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 163,524 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 2 | Sweden | 22,469 1000 ha | 2024 | up 43.4% | rising |
| 3 | Finland | 19,566 1000 ha | 2024 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 4 | Australia and New Zealand | 18,402 1000 ha | 2024 | up 55.4% | volatile |
| 5 | Australia | 17,321 1000 ha | 2024 | up 63.7% | volatile |
| 6 | TΓΌrkiye | 10,122 1000 ha | 2024 | up 329.0% | volatile |
| 7 | Brazil | 9,917 1000 ha | 2024 | up 46.9% | rising |
| 8 | Germany | 9,094 1000 ha | 2024 | up 20.3% | rising |
| 9 | Indonesia | 7,829 1000 ha | 2024 | up 184.1% | volatile |
| 10 | Poland | 7,268 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.9% | rising |
| 11 | Norway | 7,256 1000 ha | 2024 | down 21.3% | rising |
| 12 | Malaysia | 6,798 1000 ha | 2024 | up 30.0% | volatile |
| 13 | China, mainland | 5,875 1000 ha | 2024 | down 17.0% | volatile |
| 14 | France | 5,766 1000 ha | 2024 | down 28.2% | rising |
| 15 | Ukraine | 4,778 1000 ha | 2024 | up 51.8% | volatile |
| 16 | Romania | 3,493 1000 ha | 2024 | up 38.4% | volatile |
| 17 | Austria | 3,380 1000 ha | 2024 | up 15.1% | rising |
| 18 | Spain | 3,155 1000 ha | 2024 | up 54.7% | volatile |
| 19 | Congo | 3,082 1000 ha | 2024 | up 26.1% | volatile |
| 20 | Bulgaria | 2,601 1000 ha | 2024 | up 268.0% | volatile |
| 21 | Gabon | 2,581 1000 ha | 2024 | up 117.7% | volatile |
| 22 | Japan | 2,579 1000 ha | 2024 | up 55.8% | volatile |
| 23 | French Guiana | 2,425 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 24 | Chile | 2,239 1000 ha | 2024 | down 6.5% | rising |
| 25 | Croatia | 2,033 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.3% | rising |
| 26 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2,005 1000 ha | 2024 | up 34.0% | volatile |
| 27 | Czechia | 1,782 1000 ha | 2024 | up 0.6% | rising |
| 28 | Latvia | 1,779 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.1% | rising |
| 29 | Estonia | 1,757 1000 ha | 2024 | up 35.4% | rising |
| 30 | Uruguay | 1,678 1000 ha | 2024 | up 35.2% | volatile |
| 31 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 1,626 1000 ha | 2024 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 32 | Namibia | 1,552 1000 ha | 2024 | up 989.5% | volatile |
| 33 | Mexico | 1,539 1000 ha | 2024 | up 84.4% | rising |
| 34 | Lithuania | 1,268 1000 ha | 2024 | up 18.2% | rising |
| 34 | RΓ©union | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 35 | Slovakia | 1,169 1000 ha | 2024 | down 9.3% | volatile |
| 36 | New Zealand | 1,081 1000 ha | 2024 | down 14.4% | rising |
| 37 | Peru | 1,063 1000 ha | 2024 | up 93.1% | volatile |
| 38 | Italy | 1,045 1000 ha | 2024 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 39 | Serbia | 1,025 1000 ha | 2024 | up 2.3% | volatile |
| 40 | Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 875.57 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.7% | rising |
| 41 | Republic of Korea | 702.68 1000 ha | 2024 | up 82.9% | volatile |
| 42 | Cameroon | 695.25 1000 ha | 2024 | down 26.2% | volatile |
| 43 | Argentina | 690.07 1000 ha | 2024 | up 150.5% | volatile |
| 44 | India | 628.97 1000 ha | 2024 | down 23.2% | volatile |
| 45 | Portugal | 613.03 1000 ha | 2024 | up 69.0% | volatile |
| 46 | Switzerland | 552.69 1000 ha | 2024 | down 8.3% | rising |
| 47 | Guyana | 528.11 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 48 | Viet Nam | 510.74 1000 ha | 2024 | up 282.3% | volatile |
| 49 | Hungary | 492.21 1000 ha | 2024 | up 60.5% | volatile |
| 50 | Ireland | 467.03 1000 ha | 2024 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 51 | Guatemala | 449.48 1000 ha | 2024 | down 10.0% | rising |
| 52 | Denmark | 350 1000 ha | 2024 | up 33.7% | volatile |
| 53 | Slovenia | 306.36 1000 ha | 2024 | up 3.1% | volatile |
| 54 | Belgium | 294.78 1000 ha | 2024 | down 8.4% | rising |
| 55 | Colombia | 207.04 1000 ha | 2024 | up 50.4% | rising |
| 56 | Thailand | 173.92 1000 ha | 2024 | up 293.1% | volatile |
| 57 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 165.88 1000 ha | 2024 | down 0.8% | rising |
| 58 | Melanesia | 136.95 1000 ha | 2024 | down 27.4% | volatile |
| 59 | Mozambique | 134.18 1000 ha | 2024 | up 124.0% | volatile |
| 60 | Eswatini | 127.35 1000 ha | 2024 | up 11.0% | rising |
| 61 | Belize | 102.79 1000 ha | 2024 | down 31.9% | rising |
| 62 | Paraguay | 98.22 1000 ha | 2024 | up 292.6% | volatile |
| 63 | Fiji | 83.77 1000 ha | 2024 | down 1.9% | volatile |
| 64 | Ecuador | 74.01 1000 ha | 2024 | up 36.0% | rising |
| 65 | Luxembourg | 47.07 1000 ha | 2024 | up 18.0% | rising |
| 66 | Zimbabwe | 42.12 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 67 | Panama | 41.53 1000 ha | 2024 | down 6.1% | volatile |
| 68 | United Republic of Tanzania | 40.62 1000 ha | 2024 | down 71.5% | volatile |
| 69 | Solomon Islands | 38.41 1000 ha | 2024 | down 40.9% | volatile |
| 70 | Ghana | 38.01 1000 ha | 2024 | up 1,027.9% | volatile |
| 71 | Costa Rica | 35.53 1000 ha | 2024 | down 35.3% | falling |
| 72 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 31.76 1000 ha | 2024 | down 76.1% | volatile |
| 73 | Uganda | 29.76 1000 ha | 2024 | down 23.6% | volatile |
| 74 | Suriname | 21.72 1000 ha | 2024 | down 94.0% | volatile |
| 75 | Sri Lanka | 21.53 1000 ha | 2024 | up 41.8% | rising |
| 76 | Nicaragua | 19.66 1000 ha | 2024 | down 23.1% | rising |
| 77 | Zambia | 17 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 78 | Papua New Guinea | 14.77 1000 ha | 2024 | down 61.2% | volatile |
| 79 | Sierra Leone | 11.72 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 80 | Philippines | 10.51 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 81 | Rwanda | 10.04 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 82 | Honduras | 9.2 1000 ha | 2024 | down 83.5% | volatile |
| 83 | North Macedonia | 1.64 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 84 | Cambodia | 0.42 1000 ha | 2024 | down 96.7% | volatile |
| 85 | Aruba | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Afghanistan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Angola | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Albania | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Andorra | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | United Arab Emirates | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Armenia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Azerbaijan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Burundi | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Benin | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Burkina Faso | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Bangladesh | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Bahrain | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Bahamas | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Belarus | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 85 | Bermuda | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Barbados | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Bhutan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Botswana | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Channel Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Comoros | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Cuba | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Cayman Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Cyprus | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Djibouti | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Dominica | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Dominican Republic | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 85 | Algeria | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Egypt | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Eritrea | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Ethiopia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Faroe Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Georgia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Gibraltar | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Guinea | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Gambia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Guinea-Bissau | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Equatorial Guinea | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Greece | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 85 | Grenada | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Greenland | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Guam | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Haiti | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Isle of Man | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Iraq | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Iceland | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Israel | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Jamaica | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Jordan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Kazakhstan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Kenya | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 85 | Kyrgyzstan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 85 | Kiribati | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Kuwait | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Lebanon | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Liberia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Libya | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Saint Lucia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Liechtenstein | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 85 | Lesotho | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Saint Martin (French Part) | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Morocco | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 85 | Monaco | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Madagascar | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 85 | Maldives | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Marshall Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Mali | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Malta | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Myanmar | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Montenegro | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Mongolia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Northern Mariana Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Mauritania | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Mauritius | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Malawi | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | New Caledonia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Niger | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Nigeria | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Nepal | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | volatile |
| 85 | Oman | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Pakistan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Palau | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Puerto Rico | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Palestine | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | French Polynesia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Qatar | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Saudi Arabia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Sudan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Senegal | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Singapore | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | El Salvador | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | San Marino | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Somalia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | South Sudan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Seychelles | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Chad | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Togo | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Tajikistan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Turkmenistan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Tonga | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Tunisia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Tuvalu | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Uzbekistan | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | British Virgin Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | United States Virgin Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Vanuatu | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Samoa | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Yemen | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Guadeloupe | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Martinique | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Mayotte | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Western Sahara | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Anguilla | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Cook Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Montserrat | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Niue | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Guernsey | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Jersey | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Tokelau | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Wallis and Futuna Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Micronesia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Norfolk Island | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Christmas Island | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Timor-Leste | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Cabo Verde | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Pitcairn | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Polynesia | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Heard Island and McDonald Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Bouvet Island | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | French Southern Territories | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Sark | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | United States Minor Outlying Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Ascension, Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | China, Hong Kong SAR | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Republic of Moldova | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Russian Federation | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 85 | Syrian Arab Republic | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 85 | Holy See | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | CΓ΄te d'Ivoire | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Brunei Darussalam | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | CuraΓ§ao | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | China, Macao SAR | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Naoero | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Saint BarthΓ©lemy | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Γ land Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Cocos (Keeling) Islands | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
| 85 | Chagos Archipelago | 0 1000 ha | 2024 | β | flat |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- World 396,648 1000 ha
- Northern America and Europe 310,998 1000 ha
- Americas 225,404 1000 ha
- Northern America 203,391 1000 ha
- Europe 107,607 1000 ha
- Northern Europe 56,539 1000 ha
- United States of America 39,867 1000 ha
- Asia 35,284 1000 ha
- Eastern Asia and South-eastern Asia 24,512 1000 ha
- Latin America and the Caribbean 22,014 1000 ha
- Eastern Europe 21,583 1000 ha
- South America 19,817 1000 ha
About this data
As the custodian agency of 22 SDG indicators, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is responsible for curating and refining the methodologies of these indicators, collecting data from national sources, ensuring their quality and compatibility with applicable standards and classifications, and disseminating data at global level. This FAOSTAT domain complements the global SDG database administered by the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), as well as FAOβs SDG indicators portal, by providing access to the available data for all SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship. While this metadata page provides summary information on all SDG indicators data disseminated through FAOSTAT, indicator-specific metadata can be accessed from the link on the right hand navigation column. This additional metadata file provides details on the methodology used to compile each indicators, their data sources and the contact information of the relevant FAO focal point. It includes the links to the official SDG Indicator metadata documents accessible from the UNSD global SDG database.SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship, consisting of 22 indicators and 66 series that fall under six goals: β’ Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.β’ Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.β’ Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.β’ Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.β’ Goal 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.β’ Goal 15: Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.