India Rises To 9th Globally In Forest Area
India has climbed to the ninth position in the world in terms of total forest area, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025. The country previously held the tenth spot.
Net Gain In Forests
India continues to register the third-highest annual net gain in forest area globally, showing consistent progress in afforestation and forest management.
Total Forest Cover
The country’s forest area is estimated at around 72.74 million hectares, representing about 2% of the world’s total forests. Nations like Russia, Brazil, Canada and the United States continue to hold the largest shares worldwide.
Significance For India
Officials credit the improvement to national afforestation programmes, plantation drives and local community participation in conservation. The government has described the achievement as a milestone in India’s commitment to sustainability and ecological balance.
