Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Africa
Africa: Forest area as a proportion of total land area was 22.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Africa, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area as a proportion of total land area in Africa is 22.1%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area as a proportion of total land area in Africa peaked at 26.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 22.1%, in 2025.
That places Africa 21st out of 32 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26.1% | — |
| 2000 | 25.0% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 23.8% | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 23.1% | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 22.6% | -2.2% |
| 2025 | 22.1% | -2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.1% | 26.1% | 26.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 25.0% | 25.0% | 25.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 23.5% | 23.1% | 23.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 22.4% | 22.1% | 22.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Africa
- 18 Brunei Darussalam 72.1% compare
- 19 Bhutan 70.1% compare
- 20 Sweden 68.6% compare
- 21 Japan 68.3% compare
- 22 British Virgin Islands 66.5% compare
- 23 Liberia 65.7% compare
- 24 Cook Islands 65.0% compare
More environment data for Africa
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -7.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.12 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 1.32 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.213 °C (2025)
- Primary wood and paper products (export/import) — Export value 5.54 million 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 32.26 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Export value 714,851 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity 3.78 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Import value 182,147 1000 USD (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area as a proportion of total land area in Africa?
- Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Africa was 22.1% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 26.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.1% in 2025.
- How does Africa rank for forest area as a proportion of total land area?
- Africa ranks 21st out of 32 groups with data for 2025.
- Is forest area as a proportion of total land area rising or falling in Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Africa data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Forest area as a proportion of total land area (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).