Forest distribution varies significantly across continents due to factors such as climate, historical land use, and conservation policies. The following table shows the forest cover of each continent. Let’s read.
Forest cover by continent
| Continent | Forest cover area (1000 ha) | Forest cover area percentage of land area | Forest area percentage of world forest area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe (including entire Russia) | 1038911 | 47% | 25% |
| South America | 848587 | 49% | 20% |
| North and Central America | 776162 | 37% | 19% |
| Africa | 662630 | 22% | 16% |
| Asia | 630029 | 20% | 15% |
| Oceania | 183898 | 22% | 4% |
(Also read: Top 10 Most Forested Countries in the World)
Most forested country (by forest area) in each continent
- Europe – Russia
- South America – Brazil
- North and Central America – Canada
- Africa – Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Asia – China
- Oceania – Australia