Forest area as a proportion of total land area in South America
South America: Forest area as a proportion of total land area was 48.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in South America, 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 South America is 48.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area as a proportion of total land area in South America peaked at 58.9% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 48.6%, in 2025.
South America ranks 3rd of 32 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 58.9% | — |
| 2000 | 54.7% | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 51.8% | -5.2% |
| 2015 | 50.9% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 49.8% | -2.2% |
| 2025 | 48.6% | -2.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.9% | 58.9% | 58.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 54.7% | 54.7% | 54.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 51.4% | 50.9% | 51.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 49.2% | 48.6% | 49.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South America
- 1 French Guiana 96.4% compare
- 2 Guyana 93.4% compare
- 3 Gabon 91.4% compare
- 3 Suriname 91.4% compare
- 5 Palau 91.0% compare
- 5 Timor-Leste 70.9% compare
- 6 Solomon Islands 89.8% compare
More environment data for South America
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Roundwood — Production 477.72 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 379.32 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 98.40 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Export value 589,290 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity 4.28 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area as a proportion of total land area in South America?
- Forest area as a proportion of total land area in South America was 48.6% 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 South America?
- The highest recorded value was 58.9% in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.6% in 2025.
- How does South America rank for forest area as a proportion of total land area?
- South America ranks 3rd out of 32 groups with data for 2025.
- Is forest area as a proportion of total land area rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South America 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).