Skip to main content

Most Forested Countries in the World

Since the last ice age, Earth's forest cover has diminished by 20 million sq km or 2 billion hectares. Half of this loss occurred since 1900, attributed to expanding agriculture and industrialization. Currently, forests span approximately 30% of Earth's land, totaling around 40 million sq km, with uneven distribution globally. The VisualCapitalst team created visualization of the top 15 countries with the largest forested areas, measured in square kilometers using World Bank data.

Countries with the largest forests

As expected, the world's largest country, Russia, boasts the most extensive forested area. Approximately 50% of Russia is covered by forests, amounting to roughly 8 million sq km. This surpasses the total land area of all other countries worldwide, except for China, the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia. Notably, one-fifth of the world's entire forested area is located within the borders of Russia.

Percentage of World Forests

The majority of Russia's expansive forests consist of boreal types, adapted to endure the colder and drier climates prevalent in the country. These forests comprise a mix of deciduous and coniferous species, including larch, pine, spruce, and oak.

Brazil secures the second position, boasting nearly 5 million km2 of forest cover, constituting approximately 12% of the world's total forests. This significant expanse is primarily attributed to the extensive presence of the Amazon rainforest within its borders, a size nearly double that of Saudi Arabia, the 12th largest country globally.

The Amazon rainforest also plays a pivotal role in contributing to the forest cover of neighboring countries. Peru, ranked 10th on the list, along with Colombia (13th), Bolivia (14th), and Venezuela (15th), benefit substantially from the Amazon's vast green canopy.

Canada and the United States claim the third and fourth positions, both featuring approximately 3 million km2 of forest cover. These vast wooded areas span both coasts, extending seamlessly across their shared border.

China secures the fifth position with forests covering slightly over 2 million km2. Collectively, these top five countries account for more than half of the world's total forested areas.

Expanding the scope to the top 10 countries, which encompasses Australia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Indonesia, India, and Peru, the total forest cover extends to slightly more than two-thirds of the world's forests. Broadening the view to the top 20 countries captures a substantial 80% of the Earth's overall forested expanse.

Top 10 countries by forest area sq km / percent of world's forests

  1. Russia 8,153,116 / 20.1%
  2. Brazil 4,953,914 / 12.3%
  3. Canada 3,468,911 / 8.6%
  4. U.S. 3,097,950 / 7.7%
  5. China 2,218,578 / 5.5%
  6. Australia 1,340,051 / 3.3%
  7. Democratic Republic of Congo 1,250,539 / 3.1%
  8. Indonesia 915,277 / 2.3%
  9. India 724,264 / 1.8%
  10. Peru 721,575 / 1.8%
Do you want to know more about forests? We advise you to take a look at these books.

Labels:

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Find cities with similar climate

This map has been created using The Global environmental stratification. The Global environmental stratification (GEnS), based on statistical clustering of bioclimate data (WorldClim). GEnS, consists of 125 strata, which have been aggregated into 18 global environmental zones (labeled A to R) based on the dendrogram. Interactive map >> Via www.vividmaps.com Related posts: -  Find cities with similar climate 2050 -  How global warming will impact 6000+ cities around the world?
Read more

Moose population in North America

The moose ( Alces alces ) is the largest member of the deer family, characterized by its massive size, long legs, and distinctive broad, palmate antlers found in males. They have a dark brown or black coat and a humped shoulder. Moose are primarily found in the boreal and mixed deciduous forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. They are solitary animals, often found near bodies of water, and are herbivores that feed on leaves, bark, twigs, and aquatic vegetation. Despite their size, moose are strong swimmers and can run up to 35 miles per hour. The moose population in North America is shrinking swiftly. This decrease has been correlated to the opening of roadways and landscapes into this animal's north range.   In North America, the moose range includes almost all of Canada and Alaska, the northern part of New England and New York, the upper Rocky Mountains, northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and Isle Royale.    In 2014-2015, the North American moo
Read more

Map of Fox Species Distribution

Foxes are small to medium-sized members of the Canidae family, which also includes wolves, dogs, and other related animals. There are about 37 species of foxes distributed around the world, and they inhabit a wide range of environments, from forests and grasslands to deserts and urban areas. Below is the map of fox species distribution  created by Reddit user isaacSW Here are some of the most well-known fox species and their distribution: Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes ): The red fox is one of the most widely distributed fox species and is found in North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. They are adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and urban areas. Arctic Fox ( Vulpes lagopus ): The Arctic fox is found in the Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. They have adaptations that help them survive in cold climates, such as a thick coat that changes color with the seasons. Gray Fox ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus ): The gray fox
Post a Comment
Read more