Forest cover — all countries

Forest cover — Low-income countries

Forest cover in low-income countries in 2023 — 19.86%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 7.51 pp.

2023 19.86% −0.14 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 27.36%1990
Period minimum 19.86%2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of land area

Forest cover — Low-income countries, 1990–20231820222426281990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 27.36%1991: 27.24%1992: 27.11%1993: 26.19%1994: 26.07%1995: 25.95%1996: 25.82%1997: 25.7%1998: 25.57%1999: 25.45%2000: 25.33%2001: 25.21%2002: 25.09%2003: 24.97%2004: 24.55%2005: 24.44%2006: 24.32%2007: 24.2%2008: 24.08%2009: 23.97%2010: 23.85%2011: 23.7%2012: 21.38%2013: 21.25%2014: 21.11%2015: 20.97%2016: 20.83%2017: 20.69%2018: 20.55%2019: 20.41%2020: 20.28%2021: 20.14%2022: 20%2023: 19.86%
Change over the period: −7.51 pp Annual average: -0.23 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Low-income countries

Low-income countries 19.86%
World 31.1%
Forest cover — Low-income countries, by year Low-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 19.86 −0.14 pp
2022 20 −0.14 pp
2021 20.14 −0.14 pp
2020 20.28 −0.14 pp
2019 20.41 −0.14 pp
2018 20.55 −0.14 pp
2017 20.69 −0.14 pp
2016 20.83 −0.14 pp
2015 20.97 −0.14 pp
2014 21.11 −0.14 pp
2013 21.25 −0.14 pp
2012 21.38 −2.31 pp
2011 23.7 −0.15 pp
2010 23.85 −0.12 pp
2009 23.97 −0.12 pp
2008 24.08 −0.12 pp
2007 24.2 −0.12 pp
2006 24.32 −0.12 pp
2005 24.44 −0.12 pp
2004 24.55 −0.42 pp
2003 24.97 −0.12 pp
2002 25.09 −0.12 pp
2001 25.21 −0.12 pp
2000 25.33 −0.12 pp
1999 25.45 −0.12 pp
1998 25.57 −0.12 pp
1997 25.7 −0.12 pp
1996 25.82 −0.12 pp
1995 25.95 −0.12 pp
1994 26.07 −0.12 pp
1993 26.19 −0.91 pp
1992 27.11 −0.13 pp
1991 27.24 −0.13 pp
1990 27.36

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.