Russia Leads the World in Forest Area as Five Countries Hold More Than Half of Global Forests
August 21, 2026
Forests remain one of the planet’s most important natural resources, supporting biodiversity, storing carbon and helping regulate ecosystems. Data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) show that a relatively small group of countries accounts for a remarkably large share of the world’s forest area.
Russia has the largest forest area in the world, followed by Brazil, Canada, the United States and China. The FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 found that these five countries together contained about 54% of the world’s forests.
Russia Holds the Largest Forest Area
The Russian Federation stands well ahead of every other country in total forest area. FAO’s 2020 assessment estimated Russia’s forest area at about 815 million hectares, representing roughly one-fifth of the global total.
Brazil ranked second with approximately 497 million hectares, while Canada followed with around 347 million hectares. The United States had about 310 million hectares, and China accounted for approximately 220 million hectares.
The figures illustrate the enormous geographical concentration of the world’s forests. Although forests are distributed across every continent, a handful of countries contain a particularly large proportion of the global resource.
Five Countries Account for More Than Half
The combined forest resources of Russia, Brazil, Canada, the United States and China represent approximately 54% of the world’s total forest area, according to FAO.
The organization estimated global forest coverage at about 4.06 billion hectares in 2020, equivalent to nearly one-third of the world’s land area.
This concentration also gives these countries an important role in global discussions surrounding climate change, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forestry and land management.
India Also Appears Among Major Forest Countries
India is included among the countries with a substantial forest area, although it ranks below the five leading nations shown in the FAO data.
The forest resources of countries such as India, Indonesia, Peru, Mexico, Angola, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Tanzania and Zambia demonstrate that significant forest ecosystems are spread across Asia, Africa and Latin America as well as North America and Eurasia.
The precise figures can vary depending on the assessment year and methodology. FAO’s newer Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 is now the organization’s latest worldwide assessment and is based on official national data.
Forests Face Continuing Pressure
The size of a country’s forest estate does not necessarily indicate that its forests are secure. Deforestation, degradation, wildfires, climate change, invasive species and changes in land use continue to place pressure on forests in different parts of the world.
FAO’s 2020 assessment estimated that global forest area declined by about 178 million hectares between 1990 and 2020. At the same time, the rate of net forest loss slowed over the three-decade period.
FAO also reported that tropical forests accounted for the largest share of global forest area by climatic domain, at about 45%, followed by boreal forests at 27%, temperate forests at 16% and subtropical forests at 11%.
Why Forest Area Matters
Large forests provide habitat for wildlife, contribute to biodiversity and play a major role in the global carbon cycle. They also support millions of people through timber, food, employment and other ecosystem services.
FAO’s forest assessments are used to understand changes in forest resources and support decisions related to sustainable management. The organization’s 2025 assessment describes its data as a key resource for understanding long-term forest trends and their relationship with biodiversity, climate and sustainable land use.
The ranking of countries by forest area therefore provides more than a simple comparison of land covered by trees. It highlights where some of the world’s most important forest resources are concentrated and underscores the significance of protecting them for future generations.
