Forest area as a proportion of total land area in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Forest area as a proportion of total land area was 13.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
13.6%
World rank
172nd
of 253 countries
All-time high
13.6%
in 2025
All-time low
11.5%
in 1990
Years of data
6
1990–2025
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in United Kingdom, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 13.6% for forest area as a proportion of total land area in 2025. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area as a proportion of total land area in United Kingdom peaked at 13.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 1990.
United Kingdom ranks 172nd of 253 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Forest area as a proportion of total land area in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.5% | — |
| 2000 | 12.2% | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 12.6% | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 13.0% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 13.3% | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 13.6% | +2.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 13.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 34.1%, 40% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 13.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 32.9%, 41% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.5% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 12.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.8% | 12.6% | 13.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.4% | 13.3% | 13.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 169 Bermuda 14.4% compare
- 170 Bangladesh 14.4% compare
- 171 Lebanon 13.8% compare
- 172 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 13.6% compare
- 174 Haiti 13.5% compare
- 175 Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba 13.1% compare
More environment data for United Kingdom
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -3.13 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -7.25 Percentage change (2025)
- Total fisheries production (metric tons), annual growth rate 8.63 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total fisheries production (metric tons), per unit of GDP 0 metric tons per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total fisheries production (metric tons), per capita 0.0142 metric tons per person (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days, annual growth rate -38.9 % change on previous year (2024)
- Heating Degree Days, gaps filled 5,420 (2024)
- Heating Degree Days, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Heating Degree Days, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.35 Percentage change (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area as a proportion of total land area in United Kingdom?
- Forest area as a proportion of total land area in United Kingdom was 13.6% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 13.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest forest area as a proportion of total land area recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom rank for forest area as a proportion of total land area?
- United Kingdom ranks 172nd out of 253 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area as a proportion of total land area rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
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