Forest area as a proportion of total land area in India
India: Forest area as a proportion of total land area was 24.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
24.5%
World rank
119th
of 219 countries
All-time high
24.5%
in 2025
All-time low
21.5%
in 1990
Years of data
6
1990–2025
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in India, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, forest area as a proportion of total land area in India stood at 24.5%. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area as a proportion of total land area in India peaked at 24.5% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 21.5%, in 1990.
India ranks 119th of 219 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in India, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 21.5% | — |
| 2000 | 22.7% | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 23.4% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 23.8% | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 24.3% | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 24.5% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.5% | 21.5% | 21.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 22.7% | 22.7% | 22.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 23.6% | 23.4% | 23.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 24.4% | 24.3% | 24.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
- 116 Eswatini 25.2% compare
- 117 Philippines 24.9% compare
- 118 Saint Martin (French part) 24.8% compare
- 120 Chile 24.4% compare
- 121 Montserrat 24.2% compare
- 122 China 24.1% compare
More environment data for India
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 11.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 12.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.254 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 0.954 °C (2025)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate 50.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0009 t per person (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate 17.37 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard — Import value, per capita 0.0008 1000 USD per person (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import 68.94 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area as a proportion of total land area in India?
- Forest area as a proportion of total land area in India was 24.5% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 24.5% in 2025.
- What is the lowest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.5% in 1990.
- How does India rank for forest area as a proportion of total land area?
- India ranks 119th out of 219 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area as a proportion of total land area rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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).