Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Laos
Laos: Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas was 25.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
25.7%
World rank
67th
of 197 countries
All-time high
27.1%
in 1990
All-time low
25.7%
in 2025
Years of data
6
1990–2025
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Laos, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Laos recorded 25.7% for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Laos peaked at 27.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 25.7%, in 2025.
Laos ranks 67th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 27.1% | — |
| 2000 | 26.7% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 26.3% | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 26.1% | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 25.9% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 25.7% | -1.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 25.7% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15.9%, 1.6× the median. (37 countries reporting)
- Laos's 25.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16.6%, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 27.1% | 27.1% | 27.1% | 1 |
| 2000s | 26.7% | 26.7% | 26.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 26.2% | 26.1% | 26.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 25.8% | 25.7% | 25.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 64 Germany 28.9% compare
- 65 Belgium 26.6% compare
- 66 Ecuador 25.8% compare
- 67 Lao People's Democratic Republic 25.7% compare
- 69 Martinique 25.6% compare
- 70 Seychelles 24.4% 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 proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Laos?
- Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Laos was 25.7% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 27.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.7% in 2025.
- How does Laos rank for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas?
- Laos ranks 67th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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