South Africa vs United States: Forest area

Forest area in 2024: 18.8% in South Africa and 33.8% in United States, by FAO estimates. In 2024 the value was higher in United States, by 15 percentage points, or 1.8 times that in South Africa.

Watch it change on the map

% of land · FAO

South AfricaUnited StatesWorld

What the numbers say

United States has been higher in every year both have figures for since 1990.
In 2024, South Africa ranked 133 and United States ranked 102 of 209 countries, counting from the highest.

Every year

% of land · FAO

Year	South Africa	United States	World
2024	18.8	33.8	–
2023	18.7	33.8	31.1
2022	18.7	33.8	31.1
2021	18.6	33.8	31.2
2020	18.5	33.8	31.2
2019	18.4	33.8	31.2
2018	18.4	33.8	31.3
2017	18.3	33.9	31.3
2016	18.2	33.9	31.3
2015	18.1	33.9	31.4
2014	18.1	33.9	31.4
2013	18	33.8	31.4
2012	17.9	33.8	31.5
2011	17.9	33.8	31.9
2010	17.8	33.8	32
2009	17.7	33.7	32
2008	17.6	33.6	32
2007	17.6	33.5	32.1
2006	17.5	33.5	32.1
2005	17.4	33.4	32.1
2004	17.4	33.4	32.2
2003	17.3	33.3	32.3
2002	17.2	33.2	32.3
2001	17.1	33.2	32.3
2000	17.1	33.1	32.4
1999	17	33.1	32.5
1998	16.9	33.1	32.5
1997	16.8	33.1	32.6
1996	16.8	33.1	32.7
1995	16.7	33.1	32.7
1994	16.6	33.1	32.8
1993	16.6	33.1	32.8
1992	16.5	33.1	33
1991	16.4	33	–
1990	16.3	33	–

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

South Africa vs United States

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Conflict

Deaths in conflictsSouth Africa: 0 deaths in 2022United States: 1 deaths in 2022