Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Forest area as a proportion of total land area was 17.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Southern 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 Southern Africa is 17.8%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area as a proportion of total land area in Southern Africa peaked at 17.8% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 1990.
Southern Africa ranks 23rd of 32 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16.9% | — |
| 2000 | 17.0% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 17.3% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 17.4% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 17.6% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 17.8% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.9% | 16.9% | 16.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 17.3% | 17.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 17.7% | 17.6% | 17.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
- 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
- 25 Cabo Verde 12.7% compare
- 25 Republic of Korea 64.3% compare
- 26 Congo 64.0% compare
More environment data for Southern Africa
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 7.61 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 4.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Temperature change 0.892 °C (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.282 °C (2025)
- Industrial roundwood — Export quantity 427,327 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 9.63 million m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import value 35,013 1000 USD (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Import quantity 161,260 m3 (2024)
- Industrial roundwood — Production 17.26 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area as a proportion of total land area in Southern Africa?
- Forest area as a proportion of total land area in Southern Africa was 17.8% 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 Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 17.8% in 2025.
- What is the lowest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 1990.
- How does Southern Africa rank for forest area as a proportion of total land area?
- Southern Africa ranks 23rd out of 32 groups with data for 2025.
- Is forest area as a proportion of total land area rising or falling in Southern Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Southern 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).