Madagascar Forest Area
Forest area as % of land area AG.LND.FRST.ZS
Madagascar's forest area was 21.25% in 2025, ranked 130th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1990–2025.
Overview
Madagascar's forest area stood at 21.25% in 2025, a decline of +0.05% from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 21.25% by 2025. Madagascar ranked 130th globally.
Madagascar’s forest area has contracted from 23.55 percent of its land in 1990, the all‑time peak, to 21.25 percent in 2025, the lowest level recorded over the 35‑year series and ranking it 130th globally. This 2.30‑point decline reflects persistent pressures from agricultural expansion, illegal logging and shifting cultivation, which have outpaced reforestation initiatives. The country’s current forest cover is slightly below that of Malawi (21.55 percent) and above The Gambia (21.15 percent), placing it among the lower‑ranking nations in sub‑Saharan Africa. The downward trajectory mirrors regional trends where forest loss accelerated during the 2000s, while Madagascar’s rate of decline has modestly slowed in recent years as the government implements community‑based forest management and expands protected areas. Continued investment in sustainable land‑use policies and enforcement could stabilize the loss, but without stronger interventions the downward trend is likely to persist.
Data & projection
| Year | Forest Area | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 21.23% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 21.25% | - | - |
| 2025 | 21.25% | −0.05% | #130 |
| 2023 | 21.30% | −0.02% | #130 |
| 2022 | 21.32% | −0.02% | #131 |
| 2021 | 21.34% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2020 | 21.36% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2019 | 21.39% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2018 | 21.41% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2017 | 21.43% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2016 | 21.46% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2015 | 21.48% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2014 | 21.50% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2013 | 21.52% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2012 | 21.55% | −0.02% | #132 |
| 2011 | 21.57% | −0.03% | #132 |
| 2010 | 21.60% | −0.08% | #130 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Madagascar 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
Madagascar's forest area was 21.25% in 2025. Ranked 130th globally. This represents a 0.2% decrease from the previous year.
Madagascar's forest area peaked at 23.55% in 1990.
The lowest forest area in Madagascar was 21.25% in 2025.
Madagascar ranks 130th globally in forest area as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Madagascar's forest area is projected to reach 21.25% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The forest area of Madagascar in 2025 was 21.25%. This ranks 130th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_madagascar_forest-area,
title = {Madagascar Forest Area},
url = {https://historysaid.com/madagascar/forest-area/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}