Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in South America
South America: Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas was 15.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in South America, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
The most recent figure for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in South America is 15.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in South America peaked at 15.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 8.4%, in 1990.
South America ranks 24th of 32 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in South America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.4% | — |
| 2000 | 9.7% | +15.8% |
| 2010 | 13.6% | +39.8% |
| 2015 | 14.4% | +6.2% |
| 2020 | 14.8% | +2.3% |
| 2025 | 15.0% | +1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.4% | 8.4% | 8.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 9.7% | 9.7% | 9.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 14.0% | 13.6% | 14.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.9% | 14.8% | 15.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South America
More environment data for South America
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -6.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Roundwood — Production 477.72 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, non-coniferous — Production 379.32 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood, coniferous — Production 98.40 million m3 (2024)
- Roundwood — Export value 589,290 1000 USD (2024)
- Roundwood — Export quantity 4.28 million m3 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in South America?
- Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in South America was 15.0% 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 South America?
- The highest recorded value was 15.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas recorded in South America?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.4% in 1990.
- How does South America rank for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas?
- South America ranks 24th out of 32 groups with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas rising or falling in South America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South America 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).