Forest cover — all countries

Forest cover — Southern Africa

Forest cover in Southern Africa in 2023 — 14.64%. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 2.79 pp.

2023 14.64% −0.08 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 17.43%1990
Period minimum 14.64%2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of land area

Forest cover — Southern Africa, 1990–202314151617181990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 17.43%1991: 17.35%1992: 17.26%1993: 17.18%1994: 17.09%1995: 17.01%1996: 16.93%1997: 16.84%1998: 16.76%1999: 16.67%2000: 16.59%2001: 16.5%2002: 16.42%2003: 16.33%2004: 16.25%2005: 16.16%2006: 16.08%2007: 15.99%2008: 15.91%2009: 15.82%2010: 15.74%2011: 15.65%2012: 15.57%2013: 15.49%2014: 15.4%2015: 15.32%2016: 15.23%2017: 15.15%2018: 15.06%2019: 14.98%2020: 14.89%2021: 14.81%2022: 14.72%2023: 14.64%
Change over the period: −2.79 pp Annual average: -0.08 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Southern Africa

Southern Africa 14.64%
World 31.1%
Forest cover — Southern Africa, by year Southern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 14.64 −0.08 pp
2022 14.72 −0.08 pp
2021 14.81 −0.08 pp
2020 14.89 −0.08 pp
2019 14.98 −0.08 pp
2018 15.06 −0.08 pp
2017 15.15 −0.08 pp
2016 15.23 −0.08 pp
2015 15.32 −0.08 pp
2014 15.4 −0.08 pp
2013 15.49 −0.08 pp
2012 15.57 −0.08 pp
2011 15.65 −0.08 pp
2010 15.74 −0.08 pp
2009 15.82 −0.08 pp
2008 15.91 −0.08 pp
2007 15.99 −0.08 pp
2006 16.08 −0.08 pp
2005 16.16 −0.08 pp
2004 16.25 −0.08 pp
2003 16.33 −0.08 pp
2002 16.42 −0.08 pp
2001 16.5 −0.08 pp
2000 16.59 −0.08 pp
1999 16.67 −0.08 pp
1998 16.76 −0.08 pp
1997 16.84 −0.08 pp
1996 16.93 −0.08 pp
1995 17.01 −0.08 pp
1994 17.09 −0.08 pp
1993 17.18 −0.08 pp
1992 17.26 −0.08 pp
1991 17.35 −0.08 pp
1990 17.43

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.