India has climbed to the 9th position globally in total forest area and retained its 3rd rank in annual forest area gain, according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Key Findings from the Report

Global Trends

• Total Forest Area (2025): The world’s total forest area stands at 4.14 billion hectares (ha), covering 32% of global land area.
  • This equates to 0.50 ha of forest per person globally.
• Geographical Distribution: 
  • Tropical forests account for the largest share — 45% of the world’s total forest area.
  • Followed by boreal, temperate, and subtropical domains.
  • Europe has the largest total forest area (25%), while South America has the highest proportion of forest cover (49% of its land area).
  • Five countries — Russia, Brazil, Canada, the U.S., and China — hold 54% of the world’s total forests.
• Countries with Minimal or No Forest Cover:
  • Seven countries/areas — Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Gibraltar, Holy See, Monaco, Nauru, Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands, and Tokelau — have reported no forests.
  • 49 countries have less than 10% forest cover, underscoring stark disparities in global forest distribution
• Deforestation and Forest Expansion Trends
  • Annual net loss decreased from 10.7 million ha (1990–2000) to 4.12 million ha (2015–2025).
  • Forest expansion rate slowed to 6.78 million ha per year (2015–2025), down from 9.88 million ha per year (2000–2015).

India’s Performance

• Global Rank: India is now ranked 9th globally in total forest area, up from 10th position in the previous assessment.
  • Maintains 3rd position in annual net gain in forest area globally.
• Annual Forest Gain: 
  • India recorded an annual increase of 191,000 hectares between 2015–2025, representing 0.27% of annual net change.
  • China and Russia lead in annual forest area gain, while Brazil, Angola, and Tanzania reported the largest annual forest losses.
• Total Forest Area:
  • India’s total forest area stands at 72.74 million hectares, accounting for 2% of the world’s forest area — placing it just above Peru in the global ranking.
  • Growth driven by plantation of species like bamboo and rubber and large-scale afforestation initiatives.
• Comparative Data:
  • State of the World’s Forests 2024 (FAO) reported India’s forest gain at 266,000 ha annually (between 2010–2020), ranking 3rd globally.

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About the Global Forest Resources Assessment 

• Published by: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Frequency: Conducted every five years since 1948.
• Purpose: To assess the extent, condition, management, and use of forest resources worldwide.
• Methodology: Combines satellite imagery, national inventories, and country reports.

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