Forest area in Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Forest area was 47,122 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
47,122
Rank
24th
of 32 groups
All-time high
47,122
in 2025
All-time low
44,834
in 1990
Years of data
6
1990–2025
Forest area in Southern Africa, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for forest area in Southern Africa is 47,122, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Southern Africa peaked at 47,122 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 44,834, in 1990.
Southern Africa ranks 24th of 32 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Forest area in Southern Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 44,834 | — |
| 2000 | 44,984 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 45,838 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 46,266 | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 46,695 | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 47,122 | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44,834 | 44,834 | 44,834 | 1 |
| 2000s | 44,984 | 44,984 | 44,984 | 1 |
| 2010s | 46,052 | 45,838 | 46,266 | 2 |
| 2020s | 46,909 | 46,695 | 47,122 | 2 |
Countries ranked near Southern Africa
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 in Southern Africa?
- Forest area in Southern Africa was 47,122 in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Southern Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 47,122 in 2025.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Southern Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 44,834 in 1990.
- How does Southern Africa rank for forest area?
- Southern Africa ranks 24th out of 32 groups with data for 2025.
- Is forest 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 (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).