Lao PDR — Forest area
Forest Area (% of Land Area) for Lao PDR, 1990–2024.
Forest area for Lao PDR was 56.64% in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1990 to 2024. The highest recorded value was 62.39% in 1990. Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.28% per year.
Lao PDR ranks 41 of 214 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 19%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 52.26%, so Lao PDR sits above it. It peaked in 1990 and has fallen 9% since. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved down 3%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 15 of 35 economies; Marshall Islands (53.65%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 34th of 178 in 1990 → 38th of 207 in 2000 → 37th of 209 in 2010 → 39th of 214 in 2020 → 41st of 209 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2024
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 56.64% | -0.2 pp |
| 2023 | 56.79% | -0.2 pp |
| 2022 | 56.94% | -0.2 pp |
| 2021 | 57.09% | -0.2 pp |
| 2020 | 57.25% | -0.1 pp |
| 2019 | 57.38% | -0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 57.52% | -0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 57.65% | -0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 57.79% | -0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 57.93% | -0.3 pp |
| 2014 | 58.18% | -0.3 pp |
| 2013 | 58.43% | -0.3 pp |
| 2012 | 58.68% | -0.3 pp |
| 2011 | 58.94% | -0.3 pp |
| 2010 | 59.19% | -0.2 pp |
| 2009 | 59.36% | -0.2 pp |
| 2008 | 59.53% | -0.2 pp |
| 2007 | 59.69% | -0.2 pp |
| 2006 | 59.86% | -0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 60.03% | -0.2 pp |
| 2004 | 60.2% | -0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 60.37% | -0.2 pp |
| 2002 | 60.54% | -0.2 pp |
| 2001 | 60.71% | -0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 60.88% | -0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 61.03% | -0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 61.18% | -0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 61.33% | -0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 61.48% | -0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 61.63% | -0.2 pp |
| 1994 | 61.78% | -0.2 pp |
| 1993 | 61.93% | -0.2 pp |
| 1992 | 62.09% | -0.2 pp |
| 1991 | 62.24% | -0.2 pp |
| 1990 | 62.39% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Lao PDR’s Forest area in 1991?
62.24% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of land area, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Lao PDR’s Forest area growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2024 the series was shrinking overall: -9.2% in total — about 0.3% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2024: 56.64%; 2023: 56.79%; 2022: 56.94%; 2021: 57.09%; 2020: 57.25%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
AG.LND.FRST.ZS — Forest Area (% of Land Area). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.