Russia vs South Africa: Forest area

Forest area in 2024: 50.8% in Russia and 18.8% in South Africa, by FAO estimates. In 2024 the value was higher in Russia, by 32 percentage points, or 2.7 times that in South Africa.

Watch it change on the map

% of land · FAO

RussiaSouth AfricaWorld

What the numbers say

Russia has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1992.
In 2024, Russia ranked 56 and South Africa ranked 133 of 209 countries, counting from the highest.

Every year

% of land · FAO

Year	Russia	South Africa	World
2024	50.8	18.8	–
2023	50.7	18.7	31.1
2022	50.7	18.7	31.1
2021	50.6	18.6	31.2
2020	50.6	18.5	31.2
2019	50.5	18.4	31.2
2018	50.5	18.4	31.3
2017	50.4	18.3	31.3
2016	50.3	18.2	31.3
2015	50.3	18.1	31.4
2014	50.3	18.1	31.4
2013	50.2	18	31.4
2012	50.2	17.9	31.5
2011	50.2	17.9	31.9
2010	50.2	17.8	32
2009	50.1	17.7	32
2008	50.1	17.6	32
2007	50	17.6	32.1
2006	49.9	17.5	32.1
2005	49.9	17.4	32.1
2004	49.8	17.4	32.2
2003	49.8	17.3	32.3
2002	49.7	17.2	32.3
2001	49.7	17.1	32.3
2000	49.6	17.1	32.4
1999	49.6	17	32.5
1998	49.6	16.9	32.5
1997	49.6	16.8	32.6
1996	49.6	16.8	32.7
1995	49.6	16.7	32.7
1994	49.6	16.6	32.8
1993	49.6	16.6	32.8
1992	49.5	16.5	33
1991	–	16.4	–
1990	–	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

Russia vs South Africa: Forest area

What the numbers say

Every year

Each country on its own

Good to know

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