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Forest area — all countries

Forest area — South America

Forest area in South America in 2023 — 8,296,501 km². Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 14.1%.

2023 8.3M km² −0.26% vs 2022
World rank —
Period maximum 9.66M km²1990
Period minimum 8.3M km²2023

Trend over time

1990–2023 · km²

Forest area — South America, 1990–20238M8.5M9M9.5M10M1990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 9,655,413 km²1991: 9,604,437 km²1992: 9,553,462 km²1993: 9,502,486 km²1994: 9,451,510 km²1995: 9,400,535 km²1996: 9,349,559 km²1997: 9,298,583 km²1998: 9,247,608 km²1999: 9,196,632 km²2000: 9,145,656 km²2001: 9,093,209 km²2002: 9,040,761 km²2003: 8,988,313 km²2004: 8,935,865 km²2005: 8,883,418 km²2006: 8,830,970 km²2007: 8,778,522 km²2008: 8,726,075 km²2009: 8,673,627 km²2010: 8,621,179 km²2011: 8,594,080 km²2012: 8,566,981 km²2013: 8,539,882 km²2014: 8,512,783 km²2015: 8,485,686 km²2016: 8,458,022 km²2017: 8,426,028 km²2018: 8,405,452 km²2019: 8,383,047 km²2020: 8,361,830 km²2021: 8,339,816 km²2022: 8,318,334 km²2023: 8,296,501 km²
Change over the period: −1.36M (−14.07%) Average annual rate: -0.46 %

Comparison, 2023

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

South America 8.3M km²
World 40.35M km²
Forest area — South America, by year South America All countries CSV XLSX
Year km² Change Change, %
2023 8.3M −21,833 −0.26%
2022 8.32M −21,482 −0.26%
2021 8.34M −22,014 −0.26%
2020 8.36M −21,218 −0.25%
2019 8.38M −22,405 −0.27%
2018 8.41M −20,576 −0.24%
2017 8.43M −31,995 −0.38%
2016 8.46M −27,664 −0.33%
2015 8.49M −27,097 −0.32%
2014 8.51M −27,099 −0.32%
2013 8.54M −27,099 −0.32%
2012 8.57M −27,099 −0.32%
2011 8.59M −27,099 −0.31%
2010 8.62M −52,448 −0.6%
2009 8.67M −52,448 −0.6%
2008 8.73M −52,448 −0.6%
2007 8.78M −52,448 −0.59%
2006 8.83M −52,448 −0.59%
2005 8.88M −52,448 −0.59%
2004 8.94M −52,448 −0.58%
2003 8.99M −52,448 −0.58%
2002 9.04M −52,448 −0.58%
2001 9.09M −52,448 −0.57%
2000 9.15M −50,976 −0.55%
1999 9.2M −50,976 −0.55%
1998 9.25M −50,976 −0.55%
1997 9.3M −50,976 −0.55%
1996 9.35M −50,976 −0.54%
1995 9.4M −50,976 −0.54%
1994 9.45M −50,976 −0.54%
1993 9.5M −50,976 −0.53%
1992 9.55M −50,976 −0.53%
1991 9.6M −50,976 −0.53%
1990 9.66M — —

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 America

Environment Forest cover

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

South America by year Environment Land area

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

South America by year Emissions CO2 emissions from land use

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

South America by year Environment Protected areas

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

South America by year
All indicators for South America