environment
Forest area
Forest area as a share of land area.
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Data insight
Global perspective
The world estimate was 28.0% in 2023, down 0.9% from 2013. Across the longer period from 2003, the global estimate changed by -0.4% (-1.5%). Latest country observations range from 0.0% in Gibraltar (2023) to 94.4% in Suriname (2023), with the middle country observation at 31.2%; observation years may differ. Across the derived regional aggregates, South America reports 49.6%, while Africa reports 22.8%. Over roughly a decade, South America changed by -1.5%; Africa changed by -1.0%. Among countries with sufficient history, the largest absolute decade increase was +6.3% in Guam, while the largest decrease was -11.9% in Northern Mariana Islands. Coverage includes 211 countries; their latest observation years span 2023-2023, with a median latest year of 2023.
Belgium over time
Belgium reports 22.6% in 2023. From 2013 to 2023, Belgium decreased by 0.1 percentage points (0.6%). From 2003 to 2023, Belgium increased by 0.4 percentage points (1.7%). The latest decade changed by −0.1 percentage points, versus +0.5 percentage points in the preceding decade, indicating a reversal in direction.
Europe and world context
This is 11.3 percentage points below Europe (2023). This is 5.4 percentage points below the world estimate (2023). From 2013 to 2023, Europe increased by 0.5 percentage points (1.6%). The latest decade changed by +0.5 percentage points, versus +0.7 percentage points in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Belgium has the 125th-highest latest observation among 211 countries and 32nd among 46 countries in Europe. Latest observation years span 2023-2023, so ranks are descriptive rather than perfectly synchronized.
- Regional spread: South America is at 49.6% (2023), compared with 22.8% in Africa (2023).
- Largest observed decade increase: Guam changed by +6.3%.
- Largest observed decade decrease: Northern Mariana Islands changed by -11.9%.
- Coverage: 211 countries; the median latest observation is 2023, with latest country observations spanning 2023-2023.
Source
World Bank
Source series AG.LND.FRST.ZS. World and continent values are derived from available countries using population-weighted averages.