Share of forest area within protected areas in France
France: Share of forest area within protected areas was 23.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of forest area within protected areas in France, 2010–2020
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of forest area within protected areas in France is 23.3%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 703.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of forest area within protected areas in France peaked at 23.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 2010.
France ranks 77th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of forest area within protected areas in France, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.9% | — |
| 2015 | 22.7% | +683.8% |
| 2016 | 22.8% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 22.9% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 23.1% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 23.2% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 23.3% | +0.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 23.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.0%, 1.5× the median. (69 countries reporting)
- France's 23.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 22.7%, 1.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 19.6% | 2.9% | 23.2% | 6 |
| 2020s | 23.3% | 23.3% | 23.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near France
More environment data for France
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.44 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.427 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.31 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate -3.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -3.23 % 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 -0.1777 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of forest area within protected areas in France?
- Share of forest area within protected areas in France was 23.3% in 2020, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of forest area within protected areas recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 23.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of forest area within protected areas recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 2010.
- How does France rank for share of forest area within protected areas?
- France ranks 77th out of 197 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of forest area within protected areas rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 703.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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 Share of forest area within protected areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%).