Amazon Rainforest Countries 2026

% of Amazon

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

6 Countries with the Most Amazon Rainforest

Guyana

3.1%

	Country	% of Amazon↓
	Brazil	58.4%
	Peru	12.8%
	Bolivia	7.7%
	Colombia	7.1%
	Venezuela	6.1%
	Guyana	3.1%
	Suriname	2.5%
	French Guiana	1.4%
	Ecuador	1%
	Total	100%

Country

% of Amazon↓

58.4%

12.8%

7.7%

7.1%

6.1%

3.1%

2.5%

1.4%

Total

100%

The Amazon rainforest is shrinking annually, due largely to clearcutting and deforestation by humans. As such, the listed percentages will change over time.

Amazon Rainforest The world’s largest tropical rainforest, spanning multiple countries in northern South America.

Amazon Basin The vast river drainage system centered around the Amazon River and its tributaries.

Deforestation The large-scale clearing or removal of forests, often for agriculture, mining, or development.

The Amazon Rainforest Spans Much of Northern South America

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world and stretches across a vast portion of northern South America. The rainforest and its surrounding basin cover millions of square miles and contain some of the planet’s greatest biodiversity. The region is home to countless plant and animal species and plays an important role in global climate regulation and carbon storage.

The Amazon is not confined to a single country. The rainforest extends across eight South American countries and one overseas territory. Brazil contains the largest share, but significant portions also lie within Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Venezuela. Smaller sections extend into Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Ecuador.

Brazil Contains Most of the Amazon Rainforest

Brazil contains by far the largest share of the Amazon Rainforest, accounting for approximately 58.4% of the total rainforest area in the dataset. This gives Brazil an especially important role in shaping the future of the Amazon through environmental policy, land management, conservation efforts, and economic development decisions.

Several neighboring countries also contain substantial portions of the rainforest. Peru holds roughly 12.8% of the Amazon, while Bolivia and Colombia account for about 7.7% and 7.1%, respectively. Venezuela also contains a notable share at approximately 6.1%. Together, these countries oversee the overwhelming majority of the Amazon basin and heavily influence the long-term health of the rainforest ecosystem.

Several Smaller Countries Also Depend on the Amazon

Although Brazil dominates the Amazon geographically, several smaller countries and territories also contain important portions of the rainforest. Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Ecuador together account for a smaller share of the Amazon overall, but the rainforest remains environmentally and economically significant within their borders.

In countries such as Guyana and Suriname, large portions of national territory remain heavily forested compared to many other parts of the world. French Guiana, an overseas department of France, also contains a sizable section of Amazon rainforest despite representing only a small percentage of the total basin. Even relatively small areas of rainforest can play important roles in biodiversity preservation, freshwater systems, and regional climate stability.

Amazon Cooperation Has Become Increasingly Important

Because the Amazon Rainforest stretches across multiple national borders, regional cooperation has become increasingly important in recent years. Deforestation, illegal mining, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development can all affect ecosystems that extend far beyond a single country’s territory.

In 2023, Amazon-region countries met in Brazil and signed the Belém Declaration, a regional agreement focused on strengthening cooperation around rainforest conservation and sustainable development. The agreement reflected growing recognition that protecting the Amazon requires coordination between the countries that share responsibility for the world’s largest rainforest ecosystem.