Iceland Forest Area
Forest area as % of land area AG.LND.FRST.ZS
Iceland's forest area was 0.54% in 2025, ranked 198th globally. This represents a 2.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Iceland's forest area stood at 0.54% in 2025, a rise of +0.01% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.54% by 2025. Iceland ranked 198th globally.
Iceland's forest area has demonstrated a steady increase over the past 35 years, with a notable expansion from 0.17 in 1990 to 0.54 in 2025, marking the country's all-time high. This trend is distinct from many of its peers, such as Niger, which boasts a significantly larger forest area of 0.80, or Saudi Arabia, which lags behind with a mere 0.45. Notably, Iceland's forest area has surpassed its 1990 trough and the 0.35 of Kuwait, suggesting a sustained effort in afforestation and reforestation. However, the 0.54 of 2025 still ranks Iceland 198th globally, highlighting the country's relatively limited forest coverage. As Iceland continues to prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable land use, a continued increase in forest area is likely, potentially driven by emerging technological advancements in afforestation and reforestation efforts, which could accelerate this trend and propel Iceland closer to its environmental goals.
Data & projection
| Year | Forest Area | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.55% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.54% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.54% | +0.01% | #198 |
| 2023 | 0.53% | +0.01% | #197 |
| 2022 | 0.52% | +0.01% | #198 |
| 2021 | 0.52% | +0.01% | #199 |
| 2020 | 0.51% | +0.01% | #199 |
| 2019 | 0.50% | +0.01% | #199 |
| 2018 | 0.50% | +0.00% | #199 |
| 2017 | 0.49% | +0.01% | #199 |
| 2016 | 0.49% | +0.00% | #199 |
| 2015 | 0.48% | +0.01% | #199 |
| 2014 | 0.47% | +0.01% | #199 |
| 2013 | 0.47% | +0.01% | #199 |
| 2012 | 0.46% | +0.01% | #199 |
| 2011 | 0.45% | +0.01% | #198 |
| 2010 | 0.45% | +0.01% | #196 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iceland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2016. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw forest area improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iceland's forest area was 0.54% in 2025. Ranked 198th globally. This represents a 2.5% increase from the previous year.
Iceland's forest area peaked at 0.54% in 2025.
The lowest forest area in Iceland was 0.17% in 1990.
Iceland ranks 198th globally in forest area as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Iceland's forest area is projected to reach 0.54% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The forest area of Iceland in 2025 was 0.54%. This ranks 198th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iceland_forest-area,
title = {Iceland Forest Area},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iceland/forest-area/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}