Countries With the Fastest Decline in Forest area share (5-Year Change)
Change in Forest area share over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Nicaragua fell the most: by 15.2 pts, from 41% of land area to 25.8% of land area in the five years to 2023. Cambodia is second (−8.09 pts), followed by Guyana (−6.52 pts). 95 countries fell over that period; the median change among them was −0.546 pts.
- #1
- Nicaragua · −15.2 pts
- Median
- −0.546 pts
- Coverage
- 95 countries
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicaragua | 41 | 25.8 | −15.2 pts |
| 2 | Cambodia | 45.7 | 37.6 | −8.09 pts |
| 3 | Guyana | 93.6 | 87.1 | −6.52 pts |
| 4 | Gambia, The | 24.5 | 21.3 | −3.15 pts |
| 5 | Puerto Rico (US) | 52.7 | 49.7 | −2.94 pts |
| 6 | Liberia | 68.8 | 66.1 | −2.74 pts |
| 7 | Tanzania | 52.2 | 49.6 | −2.55 pts |
| 8 | Honduras | 55.4 | 52.8 | −2.54 pts |
| 9 | Malawi | 24.2 | 22 | −2.23 pts |
| 10 | Myanmar | 44.2 | 42 | −2.22 pts |
| 11 | Burkina Faso | 14.5 | 12.3 | −2.19 pts |
| 12 | Paraguay | 38.7 | 36.5 | −2.16 pts |
| 13 | Angola | 53.2 | 51.2 | −2.05 pts |
| 14 | Seychelles | 60.5 | 58.5 | −1.99 pts |
| 15 | Brazil | 60.4 | 58.5 | −1.87 pts |
| 16 | Mozambique | 43 | 41.3 | −1.7 pts |
| 17 | Benin | 29.8 | 28.1 | −1.66 pts |
| 18 | Belize | 59.6 | 58 | −1.65 pts |
| 19 | Equatorial Guinea | 87.6 | 86.1 | −1.5 pts |
| 20 | St. Martin (French part) | 24.8 | 23.4 | −1.4 pts |
| 21 | Cameroon | 42.1 | 40.7 | −1.37 pts |
| 22 | Sierra Leone | 35.4 | 34 | −1.37 pts |
| 23 | Guinea | 21.4 | 20 | −1.36 pts |
| 24 | Bolivia | 51.5 | 50.2 | −1.31 pts |
| 25 | Côte d'Ivoire | 13.3 | 12.1 | −1.19 pts |
| 26 | Peru | 53.8 | 52.7 | −1.08 pts |
| 27 | Madagascar | 18.3 | 17.3 | −1.06 pts |
| 28 | Vanuatu | 75.6 | 74.6 | −0.971 pts |
| 29 | Thailand | 39.7 | 38.7 | −0.971 pts |
| 30 | Malaysia | 58.6 | 57.7 | −0.9 pts |
| 31 | Bhutan | 71.2 | 70.4 | −0.879 pts |
| 32 | Samoa | 58.5 | 57.6 | −0.864 pts |
| 33 | New Caledonia | 48.8 | 48.1 | −0.778 pts |
| 34 | Ecuador | 50.5 | 49.7 | −0.774 pts |
| 35 | Antigua and Barbuda | 18.6 | 17.9 | −0.762 pts |
| 36 | Guinea-Bissau | 75.6 | 74.8 | −0.754 pts |
| 37 | Lao PDR | 57.4 | 56.6 | −0.748 pts |
| 38 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 8.55 | 7.82 | −0.73 pts |
| 39 | Uganda | 12.6 | 11.9 | −0.7 pts |
| 40 | Nigeria | 19.6 | 18.9 | −0.696 pts |
| 41 | Zimbabwe | 36.4 | 35.7 | −0.688 pts |
| 42 | Colombia | 54.3 | 53.7 | −0.632 pts |
| 43 | Zambia | 61.1 | 60.5 | −0.629 pts |
| 44 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 62.1 | 61.5 | −0.624 pts |
| 45 | Guatemala | 33.7 | 33.1 | −0.623 pts |
| 46 | French Polynesia | 43.1 | 42.4 | −0.612 pts |
| 47 | Grenada | 52.1 | 51.5 | −0.606 pts |
| 48 | Suriname | 92.1 | 91.5 | −0.546 pts |
| 49 | Chad | 3.48 | 2.97 | −0.508 pts |
| 50 | Singapore | 22.3 | 21.8 | −0.471 pts |
| 51 | Sudan | 12.3 | 11.9 | −0.466 pts |
| 52 | British Virgin Islands | 66.5 | 66 | −0.441 pts |
| 53 | Eswatini | 25.7 | 25.3 | −0.436 pts |
| 54 | Mali | 9.08 | 8.67 | −0.412 pts |
| 55 | Dominica | 76.8 | 76.4 | −0.409 pts |
| 56 | Senegal | 45.4 | 45 | −0.404 pts |
| 57 | Trinidad and Tobago | 44.6 | 44.2 | −0.396 pts |
| 58 | Central African Republic | 72.8 | 72.5 | −0.374 pts |
| 59 | Venezuela, RB | 53.8 | 53.4 | −0.347 pts |
| 60 | Argentina | 17.4 | 17.1 | −0.331 pts |
| 61 | Mexico | 34.5 | 34.2 | −0.328 pts |
| 62 | San Marino | 16.7 | 16.3 | −0.327 pts |
| 63 | Timor-Leste | 71.3 | 71 | −0.322 pts |
| 64 | Eritrea | 12.2 | 12 | −0.246 pts |
| 65 | Korea, Rep. | 64.6 | 64.4 | −0.235 pts |
| 66 | Panama | 62.5 | 62.2 | −0.203 pts |
| 67 | Indonesia | 50.8 | 50.7 | −0.171 pts |
| 68 | Moldova | 11.4 | 11.3 | −0.166 pts |
| 69 | Sri Lanka | 34.5 | 34.4 | −0.165 pts |
| 70 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 42.3 | 42.1 | −0.162 pts |
| 71 | North Macedonia | 40.9 | 40.8 | −0.135 pts |
| 72 | Solomon Islands | 90 | 89.8 | −0.131 pts |
| 73 | Gabon | 91.6 | 91.4 | −0.13 pts |
| 74 | Belgium | 22.1 | 22 | −0.124 pts |
| 75 | Guam | 52.4 | 52.3 | −0.097 pts |
| 76 | Papua New Guinea | 75.2 | 75.2 | −0.079 pts |
| 77 | Iraq | 1.69 | 1.61 | −0.076 pts |
| 78 | Cyprus | 18.7 | 18.6 | −0.075 pts |
| 79 | Tunisia | 4.51 | 4.44 | −0.067 pts |
| 80 | Comoros | 17.8 | 17.8 | −0.051 pts |
| 81 | United States | 33.8 | 33.8 | −0.05 pts |
| 82 | Slovenia | 61.8 | 61.8 | −0.046 pts |
| 83 | Japan | 68.4 | 68.3 | −0.038 pts |
| 84 | Bangladesh | 14.4 | 14.4 | −0.038 pts |
| 85 | Barbados | 14.7 | 14.6 | −0.034 pts |
| 86 | Niger | 0.862 | 0.837 | −0.025 pts |
| 87 | Sweden | 68.6 | 68.6 | −0.021 pts |
| 88 | Isle of Man | 6.42 | 6.41 | −0.0094 pts |
| 89 | Chile | 24.5 | 24.5 | −0.009 pts |
| 90 | Mongolia | 9.1 | 9.1 | −0.0073 pts |
| 91 | Namibia | 9.77 | 9.77 | −0.0039 pts |
| 92 | Kiribati | 1.32 | 1.32 | −0.0016 pts |
| 93 | Algeria | 0.712 | 0.71 | −0.0014 pts |
| 94 | Ethiopia | 23.8 | 23.8 | −0.001 pts |
| 95 | Libya | 0.118 | 0.117 | −0.001 pts |
About the top 10
#1 Nicaragua
Nicaragua ranks #1 on this list with −15.2 pts.
- Capital
- Managua
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 7.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$22.24 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,173 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 59.4% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in women in parliament share · #3 in women in ministerial positions share · #28 in homicide rate.
#2 Cambodia
Cambodia ranks #2 on this list with −8.09 pts.
- Capital
- Phnom Penh
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 17.85 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$51.27 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$2,872 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 41.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Phnom Penh.
Also ranks #3 in time to start a business (days) · #5 in manufacturing value added share of gdp · #6 in labour force participation rate.
#3 Guyana
Guyana ranks #3 on this list with −6.52 pts.
- Capital
- Georgetown
- Continent
- South America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 835,990 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$27.1 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$32,414 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 70.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 26.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in gdp growth rate · #1 in industry value added share of gdp · #1 in livestock production index.
#4 Gambia, The
Gambia, The ranks #4 on this list with −3.15 pts.
- Capital
- Banjul
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 2.82 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.59 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$919.1 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 66.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 65% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in gender parity index (school enrolment) · #3 in arable land share · #7 in gross capital formation rate.
#5 Puerto Rico (US)
Puerto Rico (US) ranks #5 on this list with −2.94 pts.
- Capital
- San Juan
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 3.18 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$129.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$40,620 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in manufacturing value added share of gdp · #3 in population ages 65+ share · #4 in age dependency ratio (old).
#6 Liberia
Liberia ranks #6 on this list with −2.74 pts.
- Capital
- Monrovia
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 5.73 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$5.25 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$915.3 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 62.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 56.1% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Monrovia.
Also ranks #2 in forest rents share of gdp · #3 in renewable energy share · #5 in infant mortality rate.
#7 Tanzania
Tanzania ranks #7 on this list with −2.55 pts.
- Capital
- Dodoma
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 70.55 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$90.14 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,319 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 36.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Dar es Salaam.
Also ranks #4 in labour force participation rate · #4 in female labour force participation · #5 in livestock production index.
#8 Honduras
Honduras ranks #8 on this list with −2.54 pts.
- Capital
- Tegucigalpa
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 11.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$39.6 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,598 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 59.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tegucigalpa.
Also ranks #6 in deposit interest rate · #10 in gini index · #11 in homicide rate.
#9 Malawi
Malawi ranks #9 on this list with −2.23 pts.
- Capital
- Lilongwe
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 22.22 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$14.92 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$671.5 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.6 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 17.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in school enrolment (primary) · #3 in pupil-teacher ratio (primary) · #3 in poverty headcount ratio.
#10 Myanmar
Myanmar ranks #10 on this list with −2.22 pts.
- Capital
- Naypyidaw
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 54.85 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$81.67 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,489 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 67.1 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 30.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw.
Also ranks #3 in smoking prevalence · #6 in refugee population by origin · #8 in manufacturing value added share of gdp.
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
Source and method
Change in Forest area share over the five years to each country's latest year, in points (a share or rate is not shown as a % of itself). Only countries that fell are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator AG.LND.FRST.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Forest area (% of land area): FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (via World Development Indicators)
Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Values are shown as published (changes are computed from the published values). Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.