Russia has the most forests, but where does India rank? Check top 15 nations with largest forest cover

From Russia’s vast Siberian wilderness to Brazil’s dense Amazon rainforest, the world’s forests cover millions of hectares and serve as crucial lifelines for the planet. But which countries have the largest forest areas, and where does India stand on the global list? Latest data compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and featured by Visual Capitalist reveals the 15 nations with the biggest forest cover worldwide.

Brazil and Canada Follow Russia 

Russia tops the ranking with 833 million hectares of forestapproximately 70% more than Brazil, the second-placed country.

Brazil ranks second globally with 486 million hectares of forest, representing 11.7% of the world’s total. Canada is third with 369 million hectares, while the United States occupies fourth place with 309 million hectares.
China completes the top five with 227 million hectares. Together, Russia, Brazil, Canada, the U.S. and China account for more than half of the world’s forest area.

The Democratic Republic of Congo ranks sixth with 139 million hectares, followed by Australia with 134 million hectares and Indonesia with 96 million hectares.

India Has 73 Million Hectares

India ranks ninth on the list, with approximately 73 million hectares of forest, equivalent to 1.8% of the global total. It is positioned between Indonesia and Peru, which have 96 million and 67 million hectares, respectively.
Mexico, Angola, Colombia, Bolivia and Venezuela complete the 15-country ranking.

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Top 15 Countries With the Most Forest 

Americas Dominate the List

Eight countries from the Americas feature in the ranking: Brazil, Canada, the U.S., Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia and Venezuela. Collectively, the 15 countries account for nearly three-quarters of the world’s forests.

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Forests play a vital role beyond timber production. They store carbon, protect biodiversity, filter water and support rivers and reservoirs. Forests generate around 46% of the surface water supply in the contiguous United States, highlighting their importance to national water security.