Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America

United States of America: Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas was 10.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
10.0%
Rank
32nd
of 35 groups
All-time high
10.2%
in 2020
All-time low
5.8%
in 1990
Years of data
6
1990–2025

Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America, 1990–2025

02.557.5101990200720251990: 5.82000: 6.72010: 9.82015: 9.62020: 10.22025: 10

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America is 10.0%, measured in 2025.

The figure is up 4.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America peaked at 10.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.8%, in 1990.

United States of America ranks 32nd of 35 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%) in United States of America, 1990 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1990 5.8%
2000 6.7% +15.9%
2010 9.8% +45.3%
2015 9.6% -1.5%
2020 10.2% +6.6%
2025 10.0% -2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 5.8% 5.8% 5.8% 1
2000s 6.7% 6.7% 6.7% 1
2010s 9.7% 9.6% 9.8% 2
2020s 10.1% 10.0% 10.2% 2

Countries ranked near United States of America

  1. 29 Thailand 41.3% compare
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  5. 33 Spain 40.2% compare
  6. 34 Bahrain 39.4% compare
  7. 35 Mauritius 38.7% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More environment data for United States of America

All data for United States of America →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America?
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America was 10.0% 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 United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 2020.
What is the lowest proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 5.8% in 1990.
How does United States of America rank for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas?
United States of America ranks 32nd out of 35 groups with data for 2025.
Is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas rising or falling in United States of America?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United States of 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.

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Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-forest-area-within-legally-established-protected-areas-percent/united-states-of-america/

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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
232 places, 1,379 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed