India Forest Area
Forest area as % of land area AG.LND.FRST.ZS
India's forest area was 24.72% in 2025, ranked 118th globally. This represents a 0.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
India's forest area stood at 24.72% in 2025, a rise of +0.18% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 24.72% by 2025. India ranked 118th globally.
India's forest area has exhibited a gradual expansion over the past three and a half decades, with the country's forest cover rising from 21.50 square kilometers in 1990 to 24.72 square kilometers in 2025. Notably, this increase has been a continuous trend, with no major decline in forest area observed during the period. This is in contrast to some peer countries, such as St. Martin (French part), which has a slightly higher forest cover at 24.80 square kilometers, but has experienced fluctuations in its forest area over the years. The steady growth in India's forest area is a positive development, although it remains one of the lower-ranked countries globally in terms of forest cover. Going forward, the trajectory of India's forest area is likely to be influenced by ongoing conservation efforts and the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems, which could potentially alter the trend of gradual expansion observed over the past three and a half decades.
Data & projection
| Year | Forest Area | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 24.81% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 24.72% | - | - |
| 2025 | 24.72% | +0.18% | #118 |
| 2023 | 24.54% | +0.09% | #119 |
| 2022 | 24.45% | +0.09% | #120 |
| 2021 | 24.36% | +0.09% | #120 |
| 2020 | 24.27% | +0.09% | #120 |
| 2019 | 24.18% | +0.09% | #122 |
| 2018 | 24.09% | +0.09% | #124 |
| 2017 | 24.00% | +0.09% | #124 |
| 2016 | 23.91% | +0.09% | #123 |
| 2015 | 23.82% | +0.09% | #123 |
| 2014 | 23.73% | +0.09% | #124 |
| 2013 | 23.64% | +0.09% | #125 |
| 2012 | 23.55% | +0.09% | #125 |
| 2011 | 23.46% | +0.09% | #125 |
| 2010 | 23.37% | +0.06% | #124 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
India matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2010. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw forest area improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
India's forest area was 24.72% in 2025. Ranked 118th globally. This represents a 0.7% increase from the previous year.
India's forest area peaked at 24.72% in 2025.
The lowest forest area in India was 21.50% in 1990.
India ranks 118th globally in forest area as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
India's forest area is projected to reach 24.72% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The forest area of India in 2025 was 24.72%. This ranks 118th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_india_forest-area,
title = {India Forest Area},
url = {https://historysaid.com/india/forest-area/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}