Forest cover — all countries

Forest cover — European Union

Forest cover in the European Union in 2023 — 40.06%. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 3.92 pp.

2023 40.06% +0.04 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 40.06%2023
Period minimum 36.13%1990

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of land area

Forest cover — European Union, 1990–20233637383940411990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 36.13%1991: 36.31%1992: 36.89%1993: 37.03%1994: 37.2%1995: 37.37%1996: 37.53%1997: 37.7%1998: 37.87%1999: 38.04%2000: 38.07%2001: 38.19%2002: 38.33%2003: 38.45%2004: 38.57%2005: 38.69%2006: 38.82%2007: 38.94%2008: 39.06%2009: 39.18%2010: 39.28%2011: 39.37%2012: 39.45%2013: 39.52%2014: 39.59%2015: 39.68%2016: 39.73%2017: 39.79%2018: 39.83%2019: 39.88%2020: 39.92%2021: 39.97%2022: 40.02%2023: 40.06%
Change over the period: +3.92 pp Annual average: 0.12 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: European Union

European Union 40.06%
World 31.1%
Forest cover — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 40.06 +0.04 pp
2022 40.02 +0.05 pp
2021 39.97 +0.04 pp
2020 39.92 +0.05 pp
2019 39.88 +0.04 pp
2018 39.83 +0.04 pp
2017 39.79 +0.06 pp
2016 39.73 +0.05 pp
2015 39.68 +0.09 pp
2014 39.59 +0.08 pp
2013 39.52 +0.07 pp
2012 39.45 +0.08 pp
2011 39.37 +0.08 pp
2010 39.28 +0.11 pp
2009 39.18 +0.11 pp
2008 39.06 +0.13 pp
2007 38.94 +0.12 pp
2006 38.82 +0.13 pp
2005 38.69 +0.12 pp
2004 38.57 +0.12 pp
2003 38.45 +0.12 pp
2002 38.33 +0.13 pp
2001 38.19 +0.13 pp
2000 38.07 +0.03 pp
1999 38.04 +0.17 pp
1998 37.87 +0.17 pp
1997 37.7 +0.17 pp
1996 37.53 +0.17 pp
1995 37.37 +0.17 pp
1994 37.2 +0.17 pp
1993 37.03 +0.14 pp
1992 36.89 +0.58 pp
1991 36.31 +0.18 pp
1990 36.13

About the indicator

The share of land under natural or planted forest in the total land area. Under the FAO definition, forest is a plot larger than 0.5 hectares with trees taller than 5 meters and a canopy cover above 10 percent; crop plantations and urban parks are not counted. The estimates are updated as part of the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA).

Important: The aggregate for groups of countries is weighted by land area: the forest share is calculated against land area, not against the number of residents.

Source: FAOSTAT (FAO), license CC BY 4.0.