Forest certified for sustainable use in China
China: Forest certified for sustainable use was 5.88 million thousands of hectares in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Forest certified for sustainable use in China, 1990–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in thousands of hectares.
Analysis
In 2024, forest certified for sustainable use in China stood at 5.88 million thousands of hectares.
That represents a change of up 17.6% on the previous year and down 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest certified for sustainable use in China peaked at 7.60 million thousands of hectares in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0 thousands of hectares, in 1990.
China ranks 13th of 246 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Forest certified for sustainable use in China, year by year
| Year | thousands of hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 thousands of hectares | — |
| 2000 | 0 thousands of hectares | — |
| 2005 | 435,450 thousands of hectares | — |
| 2010 | 1.38 million thousands of hectares | +216.4% |
| 2015 | 7.08 million thousands of hectares | +413.8% |
| 2016 | 6.72 million thousands of hectares | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 6.76 million thousands of hectares | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 7.59 million thousands of hectares | +12.3% |
| 2019 | 7.60 million thousands of hectares | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 3.10 million thousands of hectares | -59.2% |
| 2021 | 2.43 million thousands of hectares | -21.6% |
| 2022 | 2.32 million thousands of hectares | -4.7% |
| 2023 | 5.00 million thousands of hectares | +115.8% |
| 2024 | 5.88 million thousands of hectares | +17.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0 thousands of hectares | 0 thousands of hectares | 0 thousands of hectares | 1 |
| 2000s | 217,725 thousands of hectares | 0 thousands of hectares | 435,450 thousands of hectares | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.19 million thousands of hectares | 1.38 million thousands of hectares | 7.60 million thousands of hectares | 6 |
| 2020s | 3.74 million thousands of hectares | 2.32 million thousands of hectares | 5.88 million thousands of hectares | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
- 10 Poland 7.27 million thousands of hectares compare
- 11 Norway 7.26 million thousands of hectares compare
- 12 Malaysia 6.80 million thousands of hectares compare
- 14 France 5.77 million thousands of hectares compare
- 15 Ukraine 4.78 million thousands of hectares compare
- 16 Romania 3.49 million thousands of hectares compare
More environment data for China
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.279 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.92 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 5.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8065 % 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 -0.2517 % 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest certified for sustainable use in China?
- Forest certified for sustainable use in China was 5.88 million thousands of hectares in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest forest certified for sustainable use recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 7.60 million thousands of hectares in 2019.
- What is the lowest forest certified for sustainable use recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 thousands of hectares in 1990.
- How does China rank for forest certified for sustainable use?
- China ranks 13th out of 246 countries with data for 2024.
- Is forest certified for sustainable use rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Forest certified for sustainable use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Forest area certified under an independently verified certification scheme (thousands of hectares).