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Global
Forest
Resources
Assessment
2020
Key findings
This publication contains the main findings of the Global Forest Resources Assessment
2020 (FRA 2020). The data in FRA 2020 – the “backbone” of the assessment –
have been obtained through a transparent, traceable reporting process and
a well-established network of officially nominated national correspondents.
The application of a standardized reporting methodology enables the monitoring of
change over time in parameters such as forest area, management, ownership
and use and the aggregation of data at the regional and global levels.
The information provided by FRA presents a comprehensive view of the world’s
forests and the ways in which the resource is changing. Such a clear global picture
supports the development of sound policies, practices and investments affecting
forests and forestry.
FRA is the mechanism for collecting data on two forest-related indicators of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which the United Nations General Assembly
adopted in 2015. Specifically, data submitted to FRA contribute to reporting on SDG
indicator 15.1.1 (forest area as a proportion of total land area in 2015) and indicator
15.2.1 (progress towards sustainable forest management).
Required citation: FAO. 2020. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 – Key findings. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8753en
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion
whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of
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© FAO, 2020
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Forests cover nearly
one-third of the land globally
The world has a total forest area of 4.06 billion hectares (ha), which is 31 percent
1 – although
of the total land area. This area is equivalent to 0.52 ha per person
forests are not distributed equally among the world’s peoples or geographically.
The tropical domain has the largest proportion of the world’s forests (45 percent),
followed by the boreal, temperate and subtropical domains.
More than half (54 percent) of the world’s forests is in only five countries –
the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America
and China.
Proportion and distribution of global forest area by climatic domain, 2020
Proportion and distribution of global forest area by climatic domain, 2020
Tropical
Tropical
45%
45%
Boreal
Boreal
27%
27%
Temperate
Temperate
16%
16%
Subtropical
Subtropical
11%
11%
Source: Adapted from United Nations World map, 2020.
Top five countries for forest area, 2020 (million ha)
Top five countries for forest area, 2020 (million ha)
Russian Brazil Canada United China Rest of
Russian Brazil Canada United China Rest of
Federation 497 347 States of 220 the world
Federation 497 347 States of 220 the world
815 America 1 870
815 America 1 870
310
310
% 20 12 9 8 5 46
% 20 12 9 8 5 46
1 Calculated assuming a global population of 7.79 billion people, as estimated in United Nations, Department
of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. 2019. World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition.
1 Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 Key findings
The world’s forest area is decreasing,
but the rate of loss has slowed
The world has lost 178 million ha of forest since 1990, which is an area about
the size of Libya.
The rate of net forest loss decreased substantially over the period 1990–2020
due to a reduction in deforestation in some countries, plus increases in forest
area in others through afforestation and the natural expansion of forests.
The rate of net forest loss declined from 7.8 million ha per year in the
decade 1990–2000 to 5.2 million ha per year in 2000–2010 and 4.7 million ha
per year in 2010–2020. The rate of decline of net forest loss slowed in the most
recent decade due to a reduction in the rate of forest expansion.
Global annual forest area net change, Annual forest area net change, by decade and region, 1990–2020
FAO defines deforestation as the conversion by decade, 1990–2020
of forest to other land uses (regardless 3 3 2.4
of whether it is human-induced). 2 2
1.2 1.2
“Deforestation” and “forest area net change” 1 1 0.8
0.2 0.4 0.3 0.2
are not the same: the latter is the sum of 0 0
all forest losses (deforestation) and all forest ar ar -0.2 -0.2 -0.3 -0.1
e -1 e -1
gains (forest expansion) in a given period.
Net change, therefore, can be positive -2 -2
or negative, depending on whether gains Million ha per y-3 Million ha per y-3 -2.6
-3.3 -3.4
exceed losses, or vice versa. -4 -4 -3.9
-5 -4.7 -5 -5.1
-5.2 -5.2
-6 -6
-7 -7
-8 -7.8 -8
1990–2000 2000–2010 2010–2020 Asia Oceania Europe North and Centra outh Aerica Arica
Aerica
1990–2000 2000–2010 2010–2020
2 Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 Key findings
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