In this piece, we will take a look at the five most forested countries in the world ranked by percentage of forest cover. For more countries, head on over to 30 Most Forested Countries in the World Ranked by Percentage of Forest Cover.
5. Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Percentage of Area Covered By Forests: 87%
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is a Central African coastal country. It covers an area of 2.8 million hectares, out of which 2.45 million hectares are covered by forests. Equatorial Guinea has a $16 billion economy along with a GDP per capita of $8,462. The country relies primarily on agricultural products and natural resources for its exports – with crude oil being its largest foreign exchange earner. Guinea is also one of the poorest nations in the world with vast chunks of its population living in poverty.
4. Solomon Islands
Percentage of Area Covered By Forests: 87%
The Solomon Islands is an Oceanic country that is made up of almost a thousand islands. Cumulatively, these cover an area of 28,400 square kilometers which amounts to roughly three million hectares. It has a higher hectarage of forests, standing at 2.52 million. Crucially, most of the Solomon Islands’ forests are naturally regenerating, with the FAO reporting that the country has 2.49 million hectares of regenerating forests. However, its planted forests have nearly dropped in half since 1990.
3. Gabonese Republic
Percentage of Area Covered By Forests: 88%
The Gabonese Republic is a Central African country. One of the largest countries on our list, it covers an area of roughly 26.8 million hectares out of which 23.53 million hectares are covered by forests. Like the Solomon Islands, nearly all of Gabon’s forests are naturally regenerating areas. Additionally, its planted forests have maintained their levels between 1990 and 2020. Gabon has a $22 billion economy and earns most of its foreign exchange from exporting crude oil.
2. Federated States of Micronesia
Percentage of Area Covered By Forests: 91%
The Federated States of Micronesia is one of the smallest countries in the world. It covers an area of 702 square kilometers, out of which 64,000 hectares are covered by forests. Delving deeper into Micronesia’s forests, fifty thousand hectares are naturally generating forests. The country also has a tiny economy, which was worth just $384 million as of 2019. This lends Micronesia a GDP per capita of $3,735. The U.S. has helped Micronesia a lot in its development, but the region still relies primarily on fishing and other activities for revenue.
1. Republic of Suriname
Percentage of Area Covered By Forests: 93%
The Republic of Suriname is a South American country. It covers 16.3 million hectares in area, out of which 15.2 million hectares are forests. Most of Suriname’s forests are planted forests, and according to the FAO’s estimates, the country has 14 million hectares of such forests. These have grown by one million hectares between 1990 and 2020.
Disclosure: None. You can also take a look at 12 Best Chinese Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Countries with the Highest GDP in 2022.
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