China adds more forest each year than any other country
Annual net change in forest area, top 10 gainers plus the US and Brazil, 2015–2025.
China's forests grew by about 1.69 million hectares a year in 2015–2025, the world's largest net gain.
China's yearly gain is almost twice Russia's (942,000 ha), the second-largest gainer.
The world still lost forest overall each year, led by Brazil at −2.94 million ha.
the numbers
| Net forest change (k ha/yr) | |
|---|---|
| China | 1,686 |
| Russia | 942 |
| India | 191 |
| Türkiye | 118 |
| Australia | 105 |
| France | 96 |
| Indonesia | 94 |
| South Africa | 88 |
| Canada | 83 |
| Viet Nam | 73 |
| United States | -120 |
| Brazil | -2,940 |
source notes & method
China, Russia, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Brazil, US and the global figure are from the FAO FRA 2025 text. India, Türkiye, France, South Africa and Viet Nam values and China's unrounded 1,686,000 ha are from FRA 2025 Table of top-10 gainers as quoted by Daily Sabah (dailysabah.com) and ThePrint; consistent with FAO's rounded figures. Net change = gains (planting, natural expansion) minus losses; much of China's gain is planted forest. Countries self-report to FAO.
Published 3 Nov 2026
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