Forest Cover by Country 2026

Countries with the Most Forest Coverage

Some countries have a tremendous amount of forest area coverage. Russia has the largest total forest area in the world, with more than 830 million hectares of forest as of 2025 – the most recent data available as of early 2026. Brazil ranks second, with approximately 486 million hectares, followed by Canada, which has nearly 369 million hectares of forest land.

Several other large countries also rank highly in total forest area. For example, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, and China each contain tens of millions of hectares of forest. By comparison, countries such as the United States still have extensive forest resources, but rank lower than the global leaders due to differences in land use, climate, and population density.

Countries with the Least Forest Coverage

At the opposite end of the spectrum, several countries have extremely limited forest area, often due to arid climates, desert geography, or heavy urbanization. Tuvalu and Qatar, for example, report virtually no forest cover, each with only about 1,000 hectares of forest in total. Other small or densely populated territories such as Malta (about 43,900 hectares) and Bahrain (roughly 4,000 hectares) also rank near the bottom.

Low forest coverage can limit access to domestic timber, reduce natural shade, and worsen soil degradation—factors that make agriculture and long-term environmental sustainability more difficult. In hotter regions, the lack of tree cover can intensify heat stress and limit land productivity.

What Makes Forest Coverage So Important

It is important for countries to protect their forest coverage, for several reasons, one of the biggest of which is the habitats it provides for a lot of animals that live in the local area. Many animals depend on trees to make their homes, and it can be devastating when these trees are removed.

Another reason forest coverage is important is its role in carbon sequestration. Through photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and store the carbon in their biomass and soils, while releasing oxygen (O₂) as a byproduct. This process helps slow the accumulation of greenhouse gases and makes forests a critical tool in mitigating climate change. Without adequate forest coverage, global warming could get worse due to higher atmospheric CO₂ levels.

Forest coverage also provides a regular source of wood for construction companies to build buildings. Many countries struggle to provide enough wood to construct houses, including the United States. Adequate forest coverage provides the wood needed to build buildings.

Finally, forest coverage is also important as a source of shade. Lots of crops and many animals depend on shade to protect them from the scorching sun. Forest coverage provides a source of shade, which can make it easier for certain plants and animals to survive.