Congo, Democratic Republic of Forest Area
Forest area as % of land area AG.LND.FRST.ZS
Congo, Democratic Republic of's forest area was 53.22% in 2025, ranked 41st globally. This represents a 1.8% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Congo, Democratic Republic of's forest area stood at 53.22% in 2025, a decline of +0.97% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 53.22% by 2025. Congo, Democratic Republic of ranked 41st globally.
Congo, Democratic Republic of’s forest area has contracted from 66.44 percent of its land in 1990, the all‑time peak, to 53.22 percent in 2025, the lowest level recorded over the 35‑year series and ranking it 41st globally. This 13.22‑percentage‑point decline reflects persistent deforestation driven by mining, agricultural expansion and illegal logging, pressures that have intensified since the early 2000s. The 2025 figure is marginally lower than the forest coverage of peer Belize (53.54 percent) and Northern Mariana Islands (52.96 percent), underscoring the severity of the loss in a country once among the world’s most forested. While the downward trajectory mirrors broader regional trends in Central Africa, the pace of decline suggests that without stronger enforcement of land‑use regulations and investment in sustainable forest management, the DRC’s forest share is likely to continue falling, potentially breaching the 50‑percent threshold within the next decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Forest Area | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 52.73% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 53.22% | - | - |
| 2025 | 53.22% | −0.97% | #41 |
| 2023 | 54.19% | −0.49% | #41 |
| 2022 | 54.68% | −0.49% | #41 |
| 2021 | 55.16% | −0.49% | #40 |
| 2020 | 55.65% | −0.49% | #39 |
| 2019 | 56.13% | −0.49% | #38 |
| 2018 | 56.62% | −0.49% | #37 |
| 2017 | 57.10% | −0.49% | #35 |
| 2016 | 57.59% | −0.49% | #33 |
| 2015 | 58.08% | −0.49% | #32 |
| 2014 | 58.56% | −0.49% | #32 |
| 2013 | 59.05% | −0.49% | #31 |
| 2012 | 59.53% | −0.49% | #30 |
| 2011 | 60.02% | −0.49% | #30 |
| 2010 | 60.51% | −0.30% | #31 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Congo, Democratic Republic of matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 2018. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw forest area improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Congo, Democratic Republic of's forest area was 53.22% in 2025. Ranked 41st globally. This represents a 1.8% decrease from the previous year.
Congo, Democratic Republic of's forest area peaked at 66.44% in 1990.
The lowest forest area in Congo, Democratic Republic of was 53.22% in 2025.
Congo, Democratic Republic of ranks 41st globally in forest area as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Congo, Democratic Republic of's forest area is projected to reach 53.22% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The forest area of Congo, Democratic Republic of in 2025 was 53.22%. This ranks 41st in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_congo-democratic-republic-of_forest-area,
title = {Congo, Democratic Republic of Forest Area},
url = {https://historysaid.com/congo-democratic-republic-of/forest-area/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}