Forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted in Laos
Laos: Forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted was 377,620 hectares in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted in Laos, 1990–2025
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted in Laos is 377,620 hectares, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 7.8% on the previous year and up 173.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted in Laos peaked at 377,620 hectares in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5,910 hectares, in 1990.
That places Laos 63rd out of 185 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted in Laos, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5,910 hectares | — |
| 1991 | 7,108 hectares | +20.3% |
| 1992 | 8,306 hectares | +16.9% |
| 1993 | 9,504 hectares | +14.4% |
| 1994 | 10,702 hectares | +12.6% |
| 1995 | 11,900 hectares | +11.2% |
| 1996 | 13,098 hectares | +10.1% |
| 1997 | 14,296 hectares | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 15,494 hectares | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 16,692 hectares | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 17,890 hectares | +7.2% |
| 2001 | 27,103 hectares | +51.5% |
| 2002 | 36,316 hectares | +34.0% |
| 2003 | 45,529 hectares | +25.4% |
| 2004 | 54,742 hectares | +20.2% |
| 2005 | 63,955 hectares | +16.8% |
| 2006 | 73,168 hectares | +14.4% |
| 2007 | 82,381 hectares | +12.6% |
| 2008 | 91,594 hectares | +11.2% |
| 2009 | 100,807 hectares | +10.1% |
| 2010 | 110,020 hectares | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 115,608 hectares | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 121,196 hectares | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 126,784 hectares | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 132,372 hectares | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 137,960 hectares | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 158,552 hectares | +14.9% |
| 2017 | 179,144 hectares | +13.0% |
| 2018 | 199,736 hectares | +11.5% |
| 2019 | 220,328 hectares | +10.3% |
| 2020 | 240,920 hectares | +9.3% |
| 2021 | 268,260 hectares | +11.3% |
| 2022 | 295,600 hectares | +10.2% |
| 2023 | 322,940 hectares | +9.2% |
| 2024 | 350,280 hectares | +8.5% |
| 2025 | 377,620 hectares | +7.8% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 377,620 hectares is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 118,396 hectares, 3.2× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Laos's 377,620 hectares is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 302,515 hectares, 1.2× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +51.5% | 17,890 hectares | 27,103 hectares |
| 2002 | +34.0% | 27,103 hectares | 36,316 hectares |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11,301 hectares | 5,910 hectares | 16,692 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 59,348 hectares | 17,890 hectares | 100,807 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 150,170 hectares | 110,020 hectares | 220,328 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 309,270 hectares | 240,920 hectares | 377,620 hectares | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 60 Belgium 427,220 hectares compare
- 61 Mauritania 403,660 hectares compare
- 62 Rwanda 397,350 hectares compare
- 64 Nepal 370,010 hectares compare
- 65 Bangladesh 330,350 hectares compare
- 66 Netherlands 326,820 hectares compare
More environment data for Laos
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.77 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.9142 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.4183 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted in Laos?
- Forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted in Laos was 377,620 hectares in 2025, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 377,620 hectares in 2025.
- What is the lowest forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,910 hectares in 1990.
- How does Laos rank for forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted?
- Laos ranks 63rd out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 173.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Forest area by type: naturally regenerating vs. planted. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).