New Zealand — Forest area
Forest Area (% of Land Area) for New Zealand, 1990–2024.
Forest area for New Zealand was 38.87% in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1990 to 2024. The latest year is also the highest value on record for this series. The lowest was 35.59% in 1990 (about 1.1× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.26% per year.
New Zealand ranks 83 of 214 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 39%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 52.26%, so New Zealand sits below it. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved up 4%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 25 of 35 economies; Thailand (38.73%) is just below it. That is 3% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 78th of 178 in 1990 → 87th of 207 in 2000 → 88th of 209 in 2010 → 87th of 214 in 2020 → 83rd of 209 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2024
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 38.87% | +0.3 pp |
| 2023 | 38.62% | +0.3 pp |
| 2022 | 38.36% | +0.3 pp |
| 2021 | 38.1% | +0.3 pp |
| 2020 | 37.85% | +0.1 pp |
| 2019 | 37.76% | +0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 37.67% | +0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 37.58% | +0.1 pp |
| 2016 | 37.49% | +0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2014 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2013 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2012 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2008 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2007 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2006 | 37.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2005 | 37.41% | -0.0 pp |
| 2004 | 37.41% | -0.0 pp |
| 2003 | 37.41% | -0.0 pp |
| 2002 | 37.41% | -0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 37.41% | -0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 37.41% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 37.23% | +0.2 pp |
| 1998 | 37.05% | +0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 36.87% | +0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 36.68% | +0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 36.5% | +0.2 pp |
| 1994 | 36.32% | +0.2 pp |
| 1993 | 36.14% | +0.2 pp |
| 1992 | 35.96% | +0.2 pp |
| 1991 | 35.78% | +0.2 pp |
| 1990 | 35.59% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was New Zealand’s Forest area in 1991?
35.78% (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 New Zealand’s Forest area growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2024 the series was growing 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: 38.87%; 2023: 38.62%; 2022: 38.36%; 2021: 38.1%; 2020: 37.85%. 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.