Papua New Guinea — Forest area
Forest Area (% of Land Area) for Papua New Guinea, 1990–2024.
Forest area for Papua New Guinea was 75.15% in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1990 to 2024. The highest recorded value was 76.44% in 1990. Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.05% per year.
Papua New Guinea ranks 10 of 214 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 5%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 52.26%, so Papua New Guinea sits above it. It peaked in 1990 and has fallen 2% since. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved down 0%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 5 of 35 economies; Vanuatu (74.64%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 12th of 178 in 1990 → 13th of 207 in 2000 → 13th of 209 in 2010 → 12th of 214 in 2020 → 10th of 209 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2024
| Year | % of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75.15% | -0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 75.16% | -0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 75.17% | -0.0 pp |
| 2021 | 75.18% | -0.0 pp |
| 2020 | 75.18% | -0.0 pp |
| 2019 | 75.23% | -0.0 pp |
| 2018 | 75.28% | -0.0 pp |
| 2017 | 75.32% | -0.0 pp |
| 2016 | 75.37% | -0.0 pp |
| 2015 | 75.42% | -0.0 pp |
| 2014 | 75.43% | -0.0 pp |
| 2013 | 75.44% | -0.0 pp |
| 2012 | 75.45% | -0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 75.46% | -0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 75.47% | -0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 75.52% | -0.0 pp |
| 2008 | 75.56% | -0.0 pp |
| 2007 | 75.61% | -0.0 pp |
| 2006 | 75.66% | -0.0 pp |
| 2005 | 75.71% | -0.0 pp |
| 2004 | 75.76% | -0.0 pp |
| 2003 | 75.81% | -0.0 pp |
| 2002 | 75.85% | -0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 75.9% | -0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 75.95% | -0.0 pp |
| 1999 | 76% | -0.0 pp |
| 1998 | 76.05% | -0.0 pp |
| 1997 | 76.1% | -0.0 pp |
| 1996 | 76.14% | -0.0 pp |
| 1995 | 76.19% | -0.0 pp |
| 1994 | 76.24% | -0.0 pp |
| 1993 | 76.29% | -0.0 pp |
| 1992 | 76.34% | -0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 76.39% | -0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 76.44% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Papua New Guinea’s Forest area in 1991?
76.39% (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 Papua New Guinea’s Forest area growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2024 the series was shrinking overall: -1.7% in total.
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: 75.15%; 2023: 75.16%; 2022: 75.17%; 2021: 75.18%; 2020: 75.18%. 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.