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Forest cover — all countries

Forest cover — Lower-middle-income countries

Forest cover in lower-middle-income countries in 2023 — 26.63%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 4.27 pp.

2023 26.63% −0.1 pp vs 2022
World rank —
Period maximum 30.9%1990
Period minimum 26.63%2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of land area

Forest cover — Lower-middle-income countries, 1990–2023262830321990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 30.9%1991: 30.82%1992: 29.46%1993: 29.38%1994: 29.31%1995: 29.23%1996: 29.15%1997: 29.07%1998: 28.99%1999: 28.91%2000: 28.84%2001: 28.75%2002: 28.66%2003: 28.57%2004: 28.48%2005: 28.39%2006: 28.29%2007: 28.21%2008: 28.12%2009: 28.03%2010: 27.94%2011: 27.84%2012: 27.74%2013: 27.64%2014: 27.54%2015: 27.43%2016: 27.34%2017: 27.24%2018: 27.14%2019: 27.03%2020: 26.93%2021: 26.83%2022: 26.73%2023: 26.63%
Change over the period: −4.27 pp Annual average: -0.13 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Lower-middle-income countries 26.63%
World 31.1%
Forest cover — Lower-middle-income countries, by year Lower-middle-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 26.63 −0.1 pp
2022 26.73 −0.1 pp
2021 26.83 −0.1 pp
2020 26.93 −0.1 pp
2019 27.03 −0.1 pp
2018 27.14 −0.1 pp
2017 27.24 −0.1 pp
2016 27.34 −0.09 pp
2015 27.43 −0.11 pp
2014 27.54 −0.1 pp
2013 27.64 −0.1 pp
2012 27.74 −0.1 pp
2011 27.84 −0.1 pp
2010 27.94 −0.09 pp
2009 28.03 −0.09 pp
2008 28.12 −0.09 pp
2007 28.21 −0.09 pp
2006 28.29 −0.09 pp
2005 28.39 −0.09 pp
2004 28.48 −0.09 pp
2003 28.57 −0.1 pp
2002 28.66 −0.09 pp
2001 28.75 −0.09 pp
2000 28.84 −0.07 pp
1999 28.91 −0.08 pp
1998 28.99 −0.08 pp
1997 29.07 −0.08 pp
1996 29.15 −0.08 pp
1995 29.23 −0.08 pp
1994 29.31 −0.07 pp
1993 29.38 −0.08 pp
1992 29.46 −1.36 pp
1991 30.82 −0.09 pp
1990 30.9 —

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.

Other indicators for lower-middle-income countries

Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Environment Land area

The area of a country excluding inland water bodies — the denominator for every land share.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Environment Protected areas

The share of land and sea under protection — nature reserves, national parks, sanctuaries.

Lower-middle-income countries by year Agriculture Agricultural land share

What part of the territory is used for arable land, permanent crops and pasture.

Lower-middle-income countries by year
All indicators for lower-middle-income countries