Forest area in South Korea
South Korea: Forest area was 6,279 ha th in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
6,279 ha th
World rank
75th
of 255 countries
All-time high
6,551 ha th
in 1990
All-time low
6,279 ha th
in 2025
Years of data
6
1990–2025
Forest area in South Korea, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in ha th.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 6,279 ha th for forest area in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in South Korea peaked at 6,551 ha th in 1990 and was at its lowest, 6,279 ha th, in 2025.
That places South Korea 75th out of 255 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Forest area in South Korea, year by year
| Year | ha th | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6,551 ha th | — |
| 2000 | 6,476 ha th | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 6,387 ha th | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 6,337 ha th | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 6,298 ha th | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 6,279 ha th | -0.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 6,279 ha th is above the median for high income countries, which is 506.34 ha th, 12.4× the median. (82 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 6,279 ha th is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,137 ha th, 5.5× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6,551 ha th | 6,551 ha th | 6,551 ha th | 1 |
| 2000s | 6,476 ha th | 6,476 ha th | 6,476 ha th | 1 |
| 2010s | 6,362 ha th | 6,337 ha th | 6,387 ha th | 2 |
| 2020s | 6,289 ha th | 6,279 ha th | 6,298 ha th | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More environment data for South Korea
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.2791 % 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 -2.27 % 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 -0.2415 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.61 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in South Korea?
- Forest area in South Korea was 6,279 ha th in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest forest area recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6,551 ha th in 1990.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,279 ha th in 2025.
- How does South Korea rank for forest area?
- South Korea ranks 75th out of 255 countries with data for 2025.
- Is forest area rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Forest area (thousands of hectares). 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).