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.
At around 13% forest cover in 2015, the UK is one of the least densely forested countries in Europe (Table 9.1, Figure 9.1). This compares with 38% for the EU as a whole and 31% worldwide.
Table 9.1 Forest cover: international comparisons, 2015
Country | Forest area (million ha) | Total land area (million ha) | Forest as % of land area |
Europe | |||
United Kingdom | 3 | 24 | 13 |
Finland | 22 | 30 | 73 |
France | 17 | 55 | 31 |
Germany | 11 | 35 | 33 |
Italy | 9 | 29 | 32 |
Spain | 18 | 50 | 37 |
Sweden | 28 | 41 | 68 |
Other EU | 52 | 159 | 32 |
Total EU-281 | 161 | 424 | 38 |
Russian Federation | 815 | 1638 | 50 |
Total Europe | 1015 | 2214 | 46 |
Africa | 624 | 2987 | 21 |
Asia | 593 | 3118 | 19 |
North & Central America | 751 | 2134 | 35 |
Oceania | 174 | 850 | 20 |
South America | 842 | 1747 | 48 |
World | 3999 | 13049 | 31 |
Source: FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015.
Notes:
1. Cyprus is included in EU-28 total but is part of FAO’s Asia region.
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.
Sources chapter: International Forestry