15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Permanent snow in World

World: 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Permanent snow was 281,609 km2 in 2021. ▼ Falling

Latest (2021)
281,609 km2
Change on year
down 1.3%
Rank
1st
of 21 groups
All-time high
321,604 km2
in 2000
All-time low
281,609 km2
in 2021
Years of data
6
2000–2021

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

0100.0k200.0k300.0k2000201020212000: 321.6k km22005: 311.9k km22010: 300.5k km22015: 289.2k km22018: 285.3k km22021: 281.6k km2

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: permanent snow in World is 281,609 km2, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.

The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: permanent snow in World peaked at 321,604 km2 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 281,609 km2, in 2021.

World ranks 1st of 21 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; Land Cover: Permanent snow and glaciers — Value in World, 2000 to 2021.
Year km2 Change
2000 321,604 km2
2005 311,936 km2 -3.0%
2010 300,481 km2 -3.7%
2015 289,167 km2 -3.8%
2018 285,294 km2 -1.3%
2021 281,609 km2 -1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 316,770 km2 311,936 km2 321,604 km2 2
2010s 291,647 km2 285,294 km2 300,481 km2 3
2020s 281,609 km2 281,609 km2 281,609 km2 1

Countries ranked near World

  1. 1 China, mainland 59,482 km2 compare
  2. 2 Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 373.2 km2 compare
  3. 2 Chile 25,614 km2 compare
  4. 3 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 2.7 km2 compare
  5. 3 Tajikistan 9,092 km2 compare
  6. 4 India 7,423 km2 compare
  7. 4 United Republic of Tanzania 1.6 km2 compare

See the full ranking of 205 places →

More environment data for World

All data for World →

Frequently asked questions

What is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: permanent snow in World?
15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: permanent snow in World was 281,609 km2 in 2021, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: permanent snow recorded in World?
The highest recorded value was 321,604 km2 in 2000.
What is the lowest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: permanent snow recorded in World?
The lowest recorded value was 281,609 km2 in 2021.
How does World rank for 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: permanent snow?
World ranks 1st out of 21 groups with data for 2021.
Is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: total; land cover: permanent snow rising or falling in World?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this World 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: Total; 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: Total; Land Cover: Permanent snow in World. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/15-4-2a-mountain-green-cover-area-total-land-cover-permanent-snow-and-glaciers-value/world/

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About this data

Indicator
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Total; 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
205 places, 1,230 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.