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Forest cover — all countries

Forest cover — Zambia

Forest cover in Zambia in 2023 — 59.52%. Ranked 28 in the world out of 213. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 4.25 pp.

2023 59.52% −0.25 pp vs 2022
World rank 28of 213
Period maximum 63.78%1990
Period minimum 59.52%2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of land area

Forest cover — Zambia, 1990–2023586062641990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 63.78%1991: 63.73%1992: 63.68%1993: 63.63%1994: 63.59%1995: 63.54%1996: 63.49%1997: 63.44%1998: 63.39%1999: 63.34%2000: 63.3%2001: 63.25%2002: 63.2%2003: 63.15%2004: 63.1%2005: 63.06%2006: 63.01%2007: 62.96%2008: 62.91%2009: 62.86%2010: 62.81%2011: 62.56%2012: 62.31%2013: 62.06%2014: 61.8%2015: 61.55%2016: 61.3%2017: 61.04%2018: 60.79%2019: 60.54%2020: 60.28%2021: 60.03%2022: 59.78%2023: 59.52%
Change over the period: −4.25 pp Annual average: -0.13 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Zambia 59.52%
World 31.1%
Sub-Saharan Africa 25.74%
Eastern Africa computed 28.29%
Lower-middle-income countries computed 26.63%
Forest cover — Zambia, by year Zambia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 59.52 −0.25 pp
2022 59.78 −0.25 pp
2021 60.03 −0.25 pp
2020 60.28 −0.25 pp
2019 60.54 −0.25 pp
2018 60.79 −0.25 pp
2017 61.04 −0.25 pp
2016 61.3 −0.25 pp
2015 61.55 −0.25 pp
2014 61.8 −0.25 pp
2013 62.06 −0.25 pp
2012 62.31 −0.25 pp
2011 62.56 −0.25 pp
2010 62.81 −0.05 pp
2009 62.86 −0.05 pp
2008 62.91 −0.05 pp
2007 62.96 −0.05 pp
2006 63.01 −0.05 pp
2005 63.06 −0.05 pp
2004 63.1 −0.05 pp
2003 63.15 −0.05 pp
2002 63.2 −0.05 pp
2001 63.25 −0.05 pp
2000 63.3 −0.05 pp
1999 63.34 −0.05 pp
1998 63.39 −0.05 pp
1997 63.44 −0.05 pp
1996 63.49 −0.05 pp
1995 63.54 −0.05 pp
1994 63.59 −0.05 pp
1993 63.63 −0.05 pp
1992 63.68 −0.05 pp
1991 63.73 −0.05 pp
1990 63.78 —

Eastern Africa, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

SC Seychelles 73.26 ZM Zambia 59.52 TZ Tanzania 50.05 MZ Mozambique 45.81 ZW Zimbabwe 44.74 MW Malawi 22.44 MG Madagascar 21.3 MU Mauritius 19.47 KM Comoros 16.98 ET Ethiopia 14.93 SS South Sudan 11.33 RW Rwanda 11.31 UG Uganda 11.04 BI Burundi 10.89 SO Somalia 9.17 ER Eritrea 8.63 KE Kenya 6.22 DJ Djibouti 0.26
Full table for all countries

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 Zambia

Environment Forest area

The absolute area of forest in square kilometers.

Zambia by year Environment Land area

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

Zambia by year Environment Protected areas

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

Zambia by year Agriculture Agricultural land share

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

Zambia by year
All indicators for Zambia