The FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) is a collation of forest data undertaken by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at the global level every five years.

The UK is one of the least densely forested countries in the European Union with around 13% of its total land area covered in forest in 2015 (Table 9.1, Figure 9.1). This compares with 38% for the EU as a whole and 31% worldwide.

Table 9.1 Forest cover as a percentage of total land area: international comparisons, 2015

^{Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015.}

^Notes:

^{1. Cyprus is included in EU-28 total but is part of FAO’s Asia region.}

^{2. The Europe region covers 27 EU countries (excluding Cyprus), the Russian Federation and other countries, including Norway, Switzerland, Serbia and Ukraine.}

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter.

Figure 9.1 Forest cover: international comparisons, 2015

^{Source: FAO.}

These figures are outside the scope of National Statistics.  For further information see the Sources chapter.

Additional resources

Sources chapter: International Forestry