Costa Rica Forest Area
Forest area as % of land area AG.LND.FRST.ZS
Costa Rica's forest area was 61.04% in 2025, ranked 26th globally. This represents a 1.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Costa Rica's forest area stood at 61.04% in 2025, a rise of +0.64% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 61.04% by 2025. Costa Rica ranked 26th globally.
Costa Rica’s forest area has risen steadily over the 35‑year series, climbing from 56.94 % of land in 1990 to an all‑time peak of 61.04 % in 2025, which places the country 26th globally. The lowest point occurred in 2000 at 55.96 %, after which reforestation policies and protected‑area expansion drove a persistent upward trend. By 2025 the nation’s forest coverage slightly exceeds that of Slovenia (60.97 %) and approaches Montenegro’s 61.49 %, underscoring its relative success among comparable small‑to‑medium economies. The sustained increase reflects a combination of strong environmental legislation, incentives for agroforestry, and community‑based conservation initiatives that have mitigated earlier deforestation pressures. Continued investment in sustainable land‑use practices and enforcement of protected‑area boundaries will be crucial to maintaining this trajectory, while any reversal in policy commitment could stall or reverse the gains achieved since the turn of the millennium.
Data & projection
| Year | Forest Area | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 61.36% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 61.04% | - | - |
| 2025 | 61.04% | +0.64% | #26 |
| 2023 | 60.40% | +0.32% | #27 |
| 2022 | 60.08% | +0.32% | #27 |
| 2021 | 59.76% | +0.32% | #28 |
| 2020 | 59.44% | +0.32% | #28 |
| 2019 | 59.12% | +0.32% | #29 |
| 2018 | 58.80% | +0.32% | #29 |
| 2017 | 58.48% | +0.32% | #31 |
| 2016 | 58.16% | +0.32% | #30 |
| 2015 | 57.83% | +0.32% | #34 |
| 2014 | 57.51% | +0.32% | #37 |
| 2013 | 57.19% | +0.32% | #38 |
| 2012 | 56.87% | +0.32% | #39 |
| 2011 | 56.55% | +0.32% | #40 |
| 2010 | 56.23% | +0.03% | #41 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Costa Rica matched the Orthodox Tightening Cycle pattern in 1995. Historically, 57% of countries showing this pattern (177 out of 311) saw forest area improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Rica's forest area was 61.04% in 2025. Ranked 26th globally. This represents a 1.1% increase from the previous year.
Costa Rica's forest area peaked at 61.04% in 2025.
The lowest forest area in Costa Rica was 55.96% in 2000.
Costa Rica ranks 26th globally in forest area as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Costa Rica's forest area is projected to reach 61.04% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The forest area of Costa Rica in 2025 was 61.04%. This ranks 26th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_costa-rica_forest-area,
title = {Costa Rica Forest Area},
url = {https://historysaid.com/costa-rica/forest-area/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}