Australia vs South Africa: Forest area
Forest area in 2024: 17.4% in Australia and 18.8% in South Africa, by FAO estimates. In 2024 the value was higher in South Africa, by 1.4 percentage points, or 1.08 times that in Australia.
AustraliaSouth Africa
Watch it change on the mapLatest figures
% of land · FAO
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 17.4 2024 | 17.2 | 137 of 209 |
| South Africa | 18.8 2024 | 18.1 | 133 of 209 |
| World | 31.1 2023 | 31.4 |
What the numbers say
- South Africa has been higher since 2003, when it overtook Australia.
- In 2024, Australia ranked 137 and South Africa ranked 133 of 209 countries, counting from the highest.
Every year
% of land · FAO
| Year | Australia | South Africa | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 17.4 | 18.8 | – |
| 2023 | 17.4 | 18.7 | 31.1 |
| 2022 | 17.3 | 18.7 | 31.1 |
| 2021 | 17.3 | 18.6 | 31.2 |
| 2020 | 17.3 | 18.5 | 31.2 |
| 2019 | 17.3 | 18.4 | 31.2 |
| 2018 | 17.3 | 18.4 | 31.3 |
| 2017 | 17.3 | 18.3 | 31.3 |
| 2016 | 17.3 | 18.2 | 31.3 |
| 2015 | 17.3 | 18.1 | 31.4 |
| 2014 | 17.2 | 18.1 | 31.4 |
| 2013 | 17.2 | 18 | 31.4 |
| 2012 | 17.1 | 17.9 | 31.5 |
| 2011 | 17.1 | 17.9 | 31.9 |
| 2010 | 17.1 | 17.8 | 32 |
| 2009 | 17.1 | 17.7 | 32 |
| 2008 | 17.1 | 17.6 | 32 |
| 2007 | 17.1 | 17.6 | 32.1 |
| 2006 | 17.2 | 17.5 | 32.1 |
| 2005 | 17.2 | 17.4 | 32.1 |
| 2004 | 17.2 | 17.4 | 32.2 |
| 2003 | 17.2 | 17.3 | 32.3 |
| 2002 | 17.3 | 17.2 | 32.3 |
| 2001 | 17.3 | 17.1 | 32.3 |
| 2000 | 17.3 | 17.1 | 32.4 |
| 1999 | 17.3 | 17 | 32.5 |
| 1998 | 17.3 | 16.9 | 32.5 |
| 1997 | 17.4 | 16.8 | 32.6 |
| 1996 | 17.4 | 16.8 | 32.7 |
| 1995 | 17.4 | 16.7 | 32.7 |
| 1994 | 17.4 | 16.6 | 32.8 |
| 1993 | 17.5 | 16.6 | 32.8 |
| 1992 | 17.5 | 16.5 | 33 |
| 1991 | 17.5 | 16.4 | – |
| 1990 | 17.5 | 16.3 | – |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of land under trees at least 5 metres tall, natural or planted, leaving out orchards and city parks.
- Source: FAO, via the World Bank.
- Ranks count the 209 countries with a value in 2024, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time