Global Average Forest Cover
Last updated: February 24, 2026
31%
%
Approximately 31% of the world's land area is covered by forests — about 4.06 billion hectares. This has declined from 32.5% in 1990, with the tropics losing forest fastest while temperate regions are gaining.
Historical Trend
Source: FAO
Why This Average Exists
Forests are the planet's lungs, absorbing 2.6 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually, harboring 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, and supporting 1.6 billion livelihoods.
Factors That Affect Global Average Forest Cover
- Agricultural expansion
- Logging
- Reforestation programs
- Urban development
- Climate change
- Government protection policies
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology & Data Sources
The data presented on this page is compiled from publicly available datasets published by international organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations, NASA, and national statistical agencies.
Global averages are calculated using population-weighted or arithmetic means depending on the metric. Country-level data reflects the most recent available figures, typically from 2024–2024. Where gaps exist, the latest available data point is used.
All figures are subject to revision as source organizations update their datasets. For the most authoritative data, we encourage consulting the original sources linked in the table above.
Further Reading
- Global Average Deforestation Rate— 4.7M ha million hectares/year
- Global Average CO₂ Emissions Per Capita— 4.7 tonnes tonnes/year
- Global Average Carbon Footprint— 4.7 tonnes tonnes CO₂/year
- Global Average Biodiversity Intactness Index— 75% % intact
- Global Average Temperature— 15.0°C °C
- Global Average Rainfall— 990 mm mm/year
- Global Average Ocean Temperature— 17.1°C °C
- Global Average Sea Level Rise— 3.7 mm/yr mm/year