Percent of Wild Forests Left Globally
CURRENT TOTAL
Live Counter Notable Facts
(Data shown in the table is for 2025. Counter shows current estimate)
Current Forest Cover
Primary Forests
Lost Since 1990
Understanding Percent of Wild Forests Left Globally
This counter tracks the remaining percentage of the world's original forest cover. Currently, forests cover 4.06 billion hectares or 31% of the global land area, down from 71% coverage 10,000 years ago when forests, shrubs, and wild grasslands dominated Earth's landscapes.
Of the remaining forests, only about 36% are primary forests - naturally regenerated forests of native species with minimal human disturbance. These wild forests are critical for biodiversity, with 80% of terrestrial species depending on them for survival.
Since the dawn of agriculture, humanity has cleared one-third of the world's forests - an area twice the size of the United States. Half of this loss occurred in the last century alone, with deforestation accelerating dramatically in tropical regions even as some temperate forests recover.
Global Forest Status Overview
- The world has lost 420 million hectares of forest since 1990, though the rate of net loss has slowed from 7.8 million hectares annually in the 1990s to 4.7 million hectares per year in the 2010s due to reforestation efforts.
- Primary forests, which represent only 1.11 billion hectares globally, continue to decline as they are converted to plantations or degraded, with these irreplaceable ecosystems hosting the highest levels of biodiversity and carbon storage.
- Forest fragmentation is a critical issue - while 80% of forests exist in patches larger than 1 million hectares, the remaining 20% is scattered across 34 million fragments, most under 1,000 hectares, severely limiting ecological function.
- Regional disparities are extreme: five countries (Russia, Brazil, Canada, USA, China) hold 54% of global forests, while many countries have less than 10% forest cover remaining, having converted land for agriculture and development.
Forest Classification Terms
- Primary Forest: Naturally regenerated forests with no visible human activities
- Natural Forest: Forests composed predominantly of native tree species
- Planted Forest: Forests established through planting or seeding
- Forest Cover: Land spanning over 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters
Historical Forest Loss Timeline
- 10,000 years ago: 57% of habitable land was forested
- 1700 CE: Over 50% of global forests remained
- 1900 CE: Reached 50% loss milestone
- 1990-2020: Lost 420 million hectares
- Current: 31% forest cover (4.06 billion hectares)
Forest Distribution by Region
- Europe: 35% of land area forested
- South America: 21% of global forests
- Russia: 815 million hectares (20% of global)
- Africa: 16% of global forest area
- Asia: 15% of global forests
Forest Quality Indicators
- Intact forests: 49% relatively undisturbed
- Fragmented forests: 9% with little connectivity
- Protected forests: 18% in legally protected areas
- FSC-certified: 200+ million hectares managed sustainably
- Degraded forests: Increasing due to climate stress
Data Sources and References
Methodology and Data Collection
Forest cover percentages are calculated using FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment data, combining satellite imagery with national forest inventories to track changes in forest extent and quality across 236 countries and territories.
The counter shows the declining percentage of original forest cover, accounting for both deforestation and reforestation, with current forest area of 4.06 billion hectares representing approximately 31% of global land area.