Russia has the largest forest area of any country, covering over 8.1 million square kilometers, followed by Brazil and Canada.
Quick answer: 1. Russia, 2. Brazil, 3. Canada, 4. United States, 5. China, 6. Australia, 7. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 8. Indonesia, 9. Peru, 10. India.
Forests cover roughly 31% of the world's total land area, spanning over 4 billion hectares. More than half of the world's forests are concentrated in just five countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States, and China. These massive forest ecosystems play a critical role in carbon storage, biodiversity, and climate regulation. This list ranks the top ten countries by total forest area in square kilometers, based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank. The ranking reflects forest extent only — not forest quality, biodiversity, or conservation status.
Russia possesses the world's largest forest area at over 8.15 million square kilometers, covering nearly 50% of the country's total land area. The vast boreal forests of Siberia — the taiga — account for the majority, representing roughly 20% of the world's total forest cover. Russia's forests are primarily coniferous, dominated by larch, pine, and spruce.
Brazil's forest area of nearly 5 million square kilometers is dominated by the Amazon rainforest, the world's largest tropical rainforest. The Amazon covers about 60% of Brazil's territory and spans nine countries total, but Brazil holds the largest share. Brazil's forests are under significant pressure from deforestation, having lost over 800,000 km² of forest cover in the last half-century.
Canada's 3.47 million square kilometers of forest make it the third-most forested country, with boreal forests covering much of the country's northern reaches. Approximately 38% of Canada's land area is forested, and the country holds about 9% of the world's forests. Most of Canada's forests are publicly owned and managed for timber, conservation, and recreation.
The United States has approximately 3.1 million square kilometers of forest, covering about 34% of the country. American forests are highly diverse, ranging from the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest to the pine forests of the Southeast and the mixed hardwood forests of New England. The US has one of the highest rates of reforestation in the world.
China's forest area has grown to 2.2 million square kilometers, a dramatic increase from historic lows driven by decades of aggressive reforestation programs. China has planted billions of trees since the 1970s, and its forest cover has risen from under 12% to over 23% of the country's land area. China's forests are mostly temperate, with subtropical forests in the south.
Australia's forest area of 1.34 million square kilometers covers about 17% of the continent. The majority are eucalypt forests, uniquely adapted to Australia's dry climate and fire-prone ecosystem. Australia's forests include the world-renowned Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, one of the oldest surviving tropical rainforests on Earth.
The DRC holds the largest area of tropical rainforest in Africa, with 1.26 million square kilometers of forest covering about 55% of the country. The Congo Basin rainforest is the world's second-largest tropical rainforest after the Amazon, spanning six countries. DRC's forests are a critical carbon sink and home to endangered species including gorillas, elephants, and okapis.
Indonesia's forest area of approximately 913,000 square kilometers covers about 48% of the archipelago. The country's tropical rainforests are among the most biodiverse on Earth, spanning Sumatra, Borneo (shared with Malaysia and Brunei), Sulawesi, and Papua. Indonesia has experienced significant deforestation, particularly for palm oil plantations, losing about 12% of its forest cover since 2000.
Peru's 723,000 square kilometers of forest cover about 56% of the country, dominated by the Amazon rainforest that covers most of eastern Peru. Peru has the second-largest portion of the Amazon rainforest after Brazil, and its forests are among the most biodiverse in the world. The country's cloud forests in the Andes are also globally significant ecosystems.
India rounds out the top ten with 712,000 square kilometers of forest, covering about 24% of the country's land area. India's forests range from tropical rainforests in the Western Ghats and the northeast to dry deciduous forests in central India and alpine forests in the Himalayas. India has consistently increased its forest cover over the past two decades through ambitious reforestation programs.
| # | Name | region | percent_of_world_forest | percent_of_country_land_area | primary_forest_type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | Europe / Asia | 20.1% | 49.8% | Boreal (taiga) |
| 2 | Brazil | South America | 12.2% | 59.4% | Tropical rainforest |
| 3 | Canada | North America | 8.6% | 38.2% | Boreal |
| 4 | United States | North America | 7.6% | 33.9% | Temperate mixed |
| 5 | China | Asia | 5.4% | 23.3% | Temperate / subtropical |
| 6 | Australia | Oceania | 3.3% | 17.4% | Eucalypt / sclerophyll |
| 7 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Africa | 2.8% | 55.1% | Tropical rainforest |
| 8 | Indonesia | Southeast Asia | 2.2% | 48.3% | Tropical rainforest |
| 9 | Peru | South America | 1.8% | 56.3% | Tropical rainforest / cloud forest |
| 10 | India | Asia | 1.8% | 24.1% | Tropical / subtropical diverse |
Countries are ranked by total forest area in square kilometers, using data from the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (2020) and the World Bank's World Development Indicators (most recent data, 2020–2022). Forest area is defined as land under natural or planted stands of trees, whether productive or not, and includes land that is temporarily unstocked due to harvesting or natural causes. Areas under agricultural use (orchards, tree crops) are excluded. 1 hectare = 0.01 km².
The FAO defines forest area as land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10%. It excludes agricultural land used for tree crops, orchards, and agroforestry systems.
Among the top 10 by total area, Brazil has the highest percentage of forest cover at over 59% of its land area. The country with the highest percentage of forest cover globally is Suriname, at 97.4%.
According to the FAO, the world lost approximately 10 million hectares of forest per year between 2015 and 2020, mostly in tropical regions. Gross deforestation rates are higher, but reforestation and afforestation offset some of the loss.
Yes. The FAO definition includes both naturally regenerated forests and planted forests, including commercial plantations. Planted forests account for approximately 7% of global forest area.