Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Northern Europe

Northern Europe: Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas was 11.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
11.6%
Rank
28th
of 32 groups
All-time high
11.6%
in 2025
All-time low
5.1%
in 1990
Years of data
6
1990–2025

Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Northern Europe, 1990–2025

02.557.51012.51990200720251990: 5.12000: 8.32010: 9.72015: 10.22020: 11.22025: 11.6

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Northern Europe is 11.6%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

That represents a change of up 13.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Northern Europe peaked at 11.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.1%, in 1990.

Northern Europe ranks 28th of 32 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Northern Europe, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%) in Northern Europe, 1990 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1990 5.1%
2000 8.3% +63.0%
2010 9.7% +17.3%
2015 10.2% +5.0%
2020 11.2% +10.3%
2025 11.6% +3.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 5.1% 5.1% 5.1% 1
2000s 8.3% 8.3% 8.3% 1
2010s 10.0% 9.7% 10.2% 2
2020s 11.4% 11.2% 11.6% 2

Countries ranked near Northern Europe

  1. 25 Hungary 42.5% compare
  2. 26 Thailand 41.3% compare
  3. 27 Bhutan 41.1% compare
  4. 27 Burundi 41.1% compare
  5. 29 Sierra Leone 40.6% compare
  6. 30 Spain 40.2% compare
  7. 31 Bahrain 39.4% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More environment data for Northern Europe

All data for Northern Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Northern Europe?
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Northern Europe was 11.6% 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 Northern Europe?
The highest recorded value was 11.6% in 2025.
What is the lowest proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas recorded in Northern Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 5.1% in 1990.
How does Northern Europe rank for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas?
Northern Europe ranks 28th out of 32 groups with data for 2025.
Is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas rising or falling in Northern Europe?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Northern Europe 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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Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Northern Europe. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-forest-area-within-legally-established-protected-areas-percent/northern-europe/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
220 places, 1,307 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed