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Forest area — all countries

Forest area — South Africa

Forest area in South Africa in 2023 — 169,409 km². Ranked 39 in the world out of 213. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 6.6%.

2023 169,409 km² −0.21% vs 2022
World rank 39of 213
Period maximum 181,421 km²1990
Period minimum 169,409 km²2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · km²

Forest area — South Africa, 1990–2023165,000170,000175,000180,000185,0001990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 181,421 km²1991: 181,057 km²1992: 180,693 km²1993: 180,329 km²1994: 179,965 km²1995: 179,601 km²1996: 179,237 km²1997: 178,873 km²1998: 178,509 km²1999: 178,145 km²2000: 177,781 km²2001: 177,417 km²2002: 177,053 km²2003: 176,689 km²2004: 176,325 km²2005: 175,961 km²2006: 175,597 km²2007: 175,233 km²2008: 174,869 km²2009: 174,505 km²2010: 174,141 km²2011: 173,777 km²2012: 173,413 km²2013: 173,049 km²2014: 172,685 km²2015: 172,321 km²2016: 171,957 km²2017: 171,593 km²2018: 171,229 km²2019: 170,865 km²2020: 170,501 km²2021: 170,137 km²2022: 169,773 km²2023: 169,409 km²
Change over the period: −12,012 (−6.62%) Average annual rate: -0.21 %

Comparison, 2023

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

South Africa 169,409 km²
World 40.35M km²
Sub-Saharan Africa 6.15M km²
Southern Africa computed 388,023 km²
Upper-middle-income countries computed 12.52M km²
Forest area — South Africa, by year South Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year km² Change Change, %
2023 169,409 −364 −0.21%
2022 169,773 −364 −0.21%
2021 170,137 −364 −0.21%
2020 170,501 −364 −0.21%
2019 170,865 −364 −0.21%
2018 171,229 −364 −0.21%
2017 171,593 −364 −0.21%
2016 171,957 −364 −0.21%
2015 172,321 −364 −0.21%
2014 172,685 −364 −0.21%
2013 173,049 −364 −0.21%
2012 173,413 −364 −0.21%
2011 173,777 −364 −0.21%
2010 174,141 −364 −0.21%
2009 174,505 −364 −0.21%
2008 174,869 −364 −0.21%
2007 175,233 −364 −0.21%
2006 175,597 −364 −0.21%
2005 175,961 −364 −0.21%
2004 176,325 −364 −0.21%
2003 176,689 −364 −0.21%
2002 177,053 −364 −0.21%
2001 177,417 −364 −0.2%
2000 177,781 −364 −0.2%
1999 178,145 −364 −0.2%
1998 178,509 −364 −0.2%
1997 178,873 −364 −0.2%
1996 179,237 −364 −0.2%
1995 179,601 −364 −0.2%
1994 179,965 −364 −0.2%
1993 180,329 −364 −0.2%
1992 180,693 −364 −0.2%
1991 181,057 −364 −0.2%
1990 181,421 — —

Southern Africa, 2023

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

ZA South Africa 169,409 BW Botswana 148,998 NA Namibia 64,259 SZ Eswatini 5,012 LS Lesotho 345
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

Land under natural and planted forest in square kilometers, as defined by the FAO. It shows where the world's forest resources are concentrated in absolute terms: a handful of countries hold more than half of the planet's forest, while the ranking by forest cover is led by entirely different countries.

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

Other indicators for South Africa

Environment Forest cover

What share of a country's territory is covered by forest.

South Africa by year Environment Land area

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

South Africa by year Emissions CO2 emissions from land use

Emissions from deforestation and land-use change. They can be negative.

South Africa by year Environment Protected areas

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

South Africa by year
All indicators for South Africa