Forest area is the land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 metres and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, or trees able to reach these thresholds in situ. It does not include land that is predominantly under agricultural or urban land use. Forest is determined both by the presence of trees and the absence of other predominant land uses. The trees should be able to reach a minimum height of 5 metres (m) in situ. Areas under reforestation that have not yet reached but are expected to reach a canopy cover of 10 percent and a tree height of 5 m are included, as are temporarily unstocked areas, resulting from human intervention or natural causes, which are expected to regenerate. Includes: areas with bamboo and palms provided that height and canopy cover criteria are met; forest roads, firebreaks and other small open areas; forest in national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas such as those of specific scientific, historical, cultural or spiritual interest; windbreaks, shelterbelts and corridors of trees with an area of more than 0.5 ha and width of more than 20 m; plantations primarily used for forestry or protective purposes, such as: rubber-wood plantations and cork, oak stands. Excludes: tree stands in agricultural production systems, for example in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems. The term also excludes trees in urban parks and gardens.

Forest area (sq. km)

1990200020052010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Austria37,75738,38138,50738,63238,66838,70438,74038,77638,81238,84838,88438,92038,87038,89838,92638,955
Belgium6,6736,7866,8996,8986,8966,8956,8946,8936,8936,8936,8936,8936,8936,8936,893
Cyprus1,6111,7161,7221,7281,7281,7281,7281,7271,7271,7261,7261,7261,7261,7251,7251,725
Estonia22,38922,87523,36023,53023,70023,87024,04024,21024,21324,38424,38424,38424,38424,38424,384
Finland218,753224,456223,438222,420222,754223,088223,422223,756224,090224,090224,090224,090224,090224,090224,090224,090
France144,360152,880158,535164,190165,024165,858166,692167,526168,360169,194170,028170,862171,696172,530173,364174,198
Germany113,000113,540113,815114,090114,110114,130114,150114,170114,190114,190114,190114,190114,190114,190114,190114,190
Greece32,98636,00237,51039,01839,01839,01839,01839,01839,01839,01839,01839,01839,01839,01839,01839,018
Ireland4,6166,3046,7547,2047,2727,3417,4107,4787,5477,6247,7007,7407,7807,8207,8607,900
Italy75,89883,69386,98690,28090,81891,35791,89592,43392,97193,50994,04794,58595,12395,66196,19996,738
Latvia32,41033,06633,72133,76033,79833,83733,87633,91433,95333,99234,03134,06934,10834,14734,185
Lithuania20,20020,95021,70021,73421,76821,80221,83621,87021,90021,96021,98022,00022,01022,02722,039
Luxembourg867877887887887887887887887887887887887887887
Netherlands3,4533,5953,6653,7353,7183,7003,6833,6663,6483,6583,6673,6763,6863,6953,7043,714
Portugal33,99032,81032,66532,52032,64032,76032,88033,00033,12033,12033,12033,12033,12033,12033,12033,120
Slovak Republic19,01419,09719,17919,18719,19419,20219,21019,21819,23419,25919,25919,25919,25919,25919,259
Slovenia12,33012,40012,47012,47212,47412,47612,47812,48012,46012,43912,41912,39912,37812,35812,338
Spain139,047170,939178,196185,453185,465185,477185,488185,500185,512185,552185,593185,636185,679185,722185,765185,808
Malta4444444444455555