United States Forest Area

The United States’ forest‑cover share of land has risen modestly over the 35‑year span from 33.02 percent in 1990 to 33.87 percent in 2025, placing the country at 95th in the global ranking. The all‑time peak of 33.90 percent was recorded in 2016, a slight uptick from the 1990 trough and indicating a gradual expansion of forested area despite ongoing pressures from urbanization and timber demand. This trajectory mirrors that of peer nations such as Sri Lanka, which records an identical 33.90 percent share, and Norway, at 33.59 percent, suggesting that high‑income economies with active reforestation policies can sustain modest gains. The incremental increase reflects the combined effect of federal conservation programs, private land‑owner incentives, and improved satellite monitoring that have reduced deforestation rates. Continued investment in afforestation, climate‑resilient species, and stricter land‑use regulations will be essential to maintain the upward trend and potentially move the United States higher in the global forest‑area hierarchy.