Kenya Forest Area
Forest area as % of land area AG.LND.FRST.ZS
Kenya's forest area was 6.20% in 2025, ranked 176th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Kenya's forest area stood at 6.20% in 2025, a decline of +0.01% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 6.20% by 2025. Kenya ranked 176th globally.
Kenya’s forest area has declined steadily over the 35‑year series, falling from 6.78 percent of land in 1990 to 6.20 percent in 2025, ranking 176th globally. The upward spike to an all‑time peak of 6.96 percent in 2000 was reversed by a pronounced trough of 6.17 percent in 2015, after which the share recovered only modestly. Compared with peer nations, Kenya’s forest cover remains lower than Israel’s 6.47 percent and Iran’s 6.66 percent, yet slightly above the Isle of Man’s 6.07 percent. The persistent downward trajectory reflects pressures from agricultural expansion, timber extraction and infrastructure development, which have outpaced reforestation programmes. Continued loss would likely keep Kenya below regional averages, while intensified afforestation, stricter land‑use enforcement and incentives for community‑based forest management could stabilize or even modestly increase the forest share in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Forest Area | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 6.20% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 6.20% | - | - |
| 2025 | 6.20% | −0.01% | #176 |
| 2023 | 6.22% | +0.00% | #175 |
| 2022 | 6.22% | +0.00% | #176 |
| 2021 | 6.22% | +0.00% | #176 |
| 2020 | 6.22% | −0.02% | #176 |
| 2019 | 6.24% | −0.02% | #176 |
| 2018 | 6.26% | +0.03% | #176 |
| 2017 | 6.23% | +0.03% | #176 |
| 2016 | 6.20% | +0.03% | #176 |
| 2015 | 6.17% | −0.05% | #176 |
| 2014 | 6.22% | −0.03% | #176 |
| 2013 | 6.26% | −0.03% | #176 |
| 2012 | 6.29% | −0.03% | #176 |
| 2011 | 6.32% | −0.03% | #174 |
| 2010 | 6.35% | −0.06% | #172 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Kenya matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw forest area improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenya's forest area was 6.20% in 2025. Ranked 176th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from the previous year.
Kenya's forest area peaked at 6.96% in 2000.
The lowest forest area in Kenya was 6.17% in 2015.
Kenya ranks 176th globally in forest area as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Kenya's forest area is projected to reach 6.20% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The forest area of Kenya in 2025 was 6.20%. This ranks 176th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_kenya_forest-area,
title = {Kenya Forest Area},
url = {https://historysaid.com/kenya/forest-area/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}