15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow in Europe

Europe: 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow was 2,668 km2 in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
2,668 km2
Change on year
up 0.3%
Rank
12th
of 18 groups
All-time high
3,012 km2
in 2000
All-time low
2,651 km2
in 2015
Years of data
6
2000–2021

15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow in Europe, 2000–2021

01.0k2.0k3.0k2000201020212000: 3.0k km22005: 2.8k km22010: 2.7k km22015: 2.7k km22018: 2.7k km22021: 2.7k km2

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in km2.

Analysis

In 2021, 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow in Europe stood at 2,668 km2.

The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow in Europe peaked at 3,012 km2 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2,651 km2, in 2015.

15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow in Europe, year by year

Annual values for 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow and glaciers — Value in Europe, 2000 to 2021.
Year km2 Change
2000 3,012 km2
2005 2,847 km2 -5.5%
2010 2,662 km2 -6.5%
2015 2,651 km2 -0.4%
2018 2,659 km2 +0.3%
2021 2,668 km2 +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2,929 km2 2,847 km2 3,012 km2 2
2010s 2,657 km2 2,651 km2 2,662 km2 3
2020s 2,668 km2 2,668 km2 2,668 km2 1

Countries ranked near Europe

  1. 9 Pakistan 968.5 km2 compare
  2. 10 Bhutan 915.2 km2 compare
  3. 11 Kazakhstan 887.9 km2 compare
  4. 12 Peru 636.5 km2 compare
  5. 13 New Zealand 437.9 km2 compare
  6. 13 Australia and New Zealand 437.9 km2 compare
  7. 15 Iceland 388.7 km2 compare

See the full ranking of 82 places →

More environment data for Europe

All data for Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow in Europe?
15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow in Europe was 2,668 km2 in 2021, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow recorded in Europe?
The highest recorded value was 3,012 km2 in 2000.
What is the lowest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow recorded in Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 2,651 km2 in 2015.
How does Europe rank for 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow?
Europe ranks 12th out of 18 groups with data for 2021.
Is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow rising or falling in Europe?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Europe data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow and glaciers — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow in Europe. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/15-4-2a-mountain-green-cover-area-alpine-land-cover-permanent-snow-and-glaciers-value/europe/

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About this data

Indicator
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow and glaciers — Value
Unit
km2
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
82 places, 492 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed

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 FAO’s 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: • Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.• Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.• Goal 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.• Goal 15: Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.