Countries With the Fastest Growth in Forest area (5-Year Change)
Change in Forest area over the five years to each country's latest year, as a percentage of the earlier value. Only countries that rose are listed. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).
Summary
Bahrain rose the most: by 121.8%, from 19.7 km² to 43.7 km² in the five years to 2025. Rwanda is second (+13%), followed by Kenya (+8.97%). 79 countries rose over that period; the median change among them was +0.958%.
- #1
- Bahrain · +121.8%
- Median
- +0.958%
- Coverage
- 79 countries
- Data year
- 2025
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | From | To | 5-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bahrain | 19.7 | 43.7 | +121.8% |
| 2 | Rwanda | 5,618 | 6,346 | +13% |
| 3 | Kenya | 35,915 | 39,138 | +8.97% |
| 4 | Iceland | 566.6 | 614.8 | +8.51% |
| 5 | Liechtenstein | 55.5 | 59.8 | +7.75% |
| 6 | Israel | 1,400 | 1,500 | +7.14% |
| 7 | Cabo Verde | 479.6 | 510.6 | +6.46% |
| 8 | Serbia | 32,768 | 34,752 | +6.05% |
| 9 | Uzbekistan | 36,890 | 38,942 | +5.56% |
| 10 | Ireland | 7,933 | 8,329 | +4.98% |
| 11 | Uruguay | 19,320 | 20,240 | +4.76% |
| 12 | Azerbaijan | 11,612 | 12,137 | +4.52% |
| 13 | Virgin Islands (US) | 199.1 | 206.6 | +3.77% |
| 14 | China | 2,191,000 | 2,271,500 | +3.67% |
| 15 | New Zealand | 99,653 | 103,030 | +3.39% |
| 16 | Pakistan | 30,885 | 31,925 | +3.37% |
| 17 | Jamaica | 5,969 | 6,163 | +3.26% |
| 18 | Philippines | 72,264 | 74,386 | +2.94% |
| 19 | Türkiye | 222,200 | 228,060 | +2.64% |
| 20 | Ghana | 68,778 | 70,564 | +2.6% |
| 21 | France | 173,480 | 177,950 | +2.58% |
| 22 | Malta | 4.6 | 4.7 | +2.17% |
| 23 | Fiji | 11,134 | 11,366 | +2.08% |
| 24 | Kazakhstan | 34,510 | 35,205 | +2.01% |
| 25 | United Kingdom | 32,150 | 32,780 | +1.96% |
| 26 | South Africa | 224,440 | 228,810 | +1.95% |
| 27 | Ukraine | 99,000 | 100,900 | +1.92% |
| 28 | Haiti | 3,651 | 3,721 | +1.92% |
| 29 | Bulgaria | 38,960 | 39,590 | +1.62% |
| 30 | Denmark | 6,327 | 6,426 | +1.56% |
| 31 | Czechia | 29,232 | 29,684 | +1.55% |
| 32 | Comoros | 328.7 | 333.7 | +1.52% |
| 33 | Belarus | 88,431 | 89,754 | +1.5% |
| 34 | Dominican Republic | 22,244 | 22,575 | +1.49% |
| 35 | Hungary | 20,570 | 20,874 | +1.48% |
| 36 | Nepal | 61,834 | 62,663 | +1.34% |
| 37 | Mauritania | 10,060 | 10,191 | +1.3% |
| 38 | Togo | 12,093 | 12,245 | +1.26% |
| 39 | Palau | 414.2 | 418.7 | +1.09% |
| 40 | Latvia | 34,341 | 34,670 | +0.958% |
| 41 | Djibouti | 58.8 | 59.3 | +0.85% |
| 42 | Portugal | 33,344 | 33,626 | +0.846% |
| 43 | Spain | 189,820 | 191,330 | +0.795% |
| 44 | Viet Nam | 146,770 | 147,900 | +0.77% |
| 45 | St. Lucia | 325.9 | 328.4 | +0.767% |
| 46 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 76,712 | 77,279 | +0.739% |
| 47 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 40.8 | 41.1 | +0.735% |
| 48 | Switzerland | 12,579 | 12,670 | +0.723% |
| 49 | Italy | 93,595 | 94,220 | +0.668% |
| 50 | Lithuania | 22,022 | 22,163 | +0.64% |
| 51 | El Salvador | 6,807 | 6,848 | +0.614% |
| 52 | Netherlands | 3,671 | 3,693 | +0.613% |
| 53 | India | 723,090 | 727,390 | +0.595% |
| 54 | Costa Rica | 29,721 | 29,896 | +0.589% |
| 55 | United Arab Emirates | 3,229 | 3,246 | +0.52% |
| 56 | Russian Federation | 8,284,300 | 8,326,300 | +0.507% |
| 57 | Slovak Republic | 19,312 | 19,405 | +0.482% |
| 58 | Indonesia | 955,620 | 959,690 | +0.426% |
| 59 | Romania | 69,291 | 69,571 | +0.404% |
| 60 | Austria | 38,898 | 39,039 | +0.362% |
| 61 | Tajikistan | 4,230 | 4,245 | +0.355% |
| 62 | Lebanon | 1,408 | 1,413 | +0.341% |
| 63 | Croatia | 19,396 | 19,462 | +0.34% |
| 64 | Andorra | 181.6 | 182.2 | +0.33% |
| 65 | Poland | 94,642 | 94,950 | +0.325% |
| 66 | Congo, Rep. | 217,840 | 218,540 | +0.321% |
| 67 | Cuba | 36,114 | 36,224 | +0.305% |
| 68 | Saudi Arabia | 27,681 | 27,756 | +0.271% |
| 69 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 21,569 | 21,621 | +0.241% |
| 70 | São Tomé and Principe | 551.5 | 552.8 | +0.236% |
| 71 | Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 644.2 | 645.7 | +0.233% |
| 72 | Germany | 114,570 | 114,810 | +0.209% |
| 73 | Australia | 1,332,900 | 1,335,600 | +0.203% |
| 74 | Estonia | 24,439 | 24,468 | +0.119% |
| 75 | South Sudan | 71,525 | 71,600 | +0.105% |
| 76 | Syrian Arab Republic | 5,277 | 5,278 | +0.03% |
| 77 | Morocco | 56,938 | 56,953 | +0.026% |
| 78 | Armenia | 3,340 | 3,341 | +0.024% |
| 79 | Kyrgyz Republic | 12,552 | 12,555 | +0.024% |
About the top 10
#1 Bahrain
Bahrain ranks #1 on this list with +121.8%.
- Capital
- Manama
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 1.6 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$48.97 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$30,597 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 81.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 100% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in urban population share · #1 in immunisation (measles) rate · #2 in internet users share.
#2 Rwanda
Rwanda ranks #2 on this list with +13%.
- Capital
- Kigali
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Low income
- Population
- 14.57 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$16.37 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$1,124 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 68 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 30.9% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Kigali.
Also ranks #1 in women in parliament share · #2 in school enrolment (primary) · #2 in pupil-teacher ratio (primary).
#3 Kenya
Kenya ranks #3 on this list with +8.97%.
- Capital
- Nairobi
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 57.53 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$135.94 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$2,363 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 63.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 32.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Nairobi, Mombasa.
Also ranks #8 in prevalence of undernourishment · #8 in deposit interest rate · #12 in poverty headcount ratio.
#4 Iceland
Iceland ranks #4 on this list with +8.51%.
- Capital
- Reykjavík
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 392,400 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$38.58 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$98,323 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 82.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 94.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in energy use per capita · #1 in bank accounts share (adults) · #1 in water resources per capita.
#5 Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein ranks #5 on this list with +7.75%.
- Capital
- Vaduz
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 41,024 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$8.91 billion (2024)
- GDP per person
- US$220,170 (2024)
- Life expectancy
- 84.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 14.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in rural population share · #1 in researchers in r&d per million · #2 in gdp per capita.
#6 Israel
Israel ranks #6 on this list with +7.14%.
- Capital
- Jerusalem
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 10.12 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$610.78 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$60,337 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 91.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Jerusalem.
Also ranks #1 in r&d expenditure share of gdp · #1 in firms using banks to finance investment share · #7 in irrigated land share.
#7 Cabo Verde
Cabo Verde ranks #7 on this list with +6.46%.
- Capital
- Praia
- Continent
- Africa
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 527,330 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.06 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,797 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.2 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 77.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #10 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #17 in women in parliament share · #23 in youth unemployment rate.
#8 Serbia
Serbia ranks #8 on this list with +6.05%.
- Capital
- Belgrade
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 6.55 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.95 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$15,262 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 62.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: City of Belgrade, Belgrade.
Also ranks #3 in death rate · #4 in smoking prevalence · #13 in age dependency ratio (old).
#9 Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan ranks #9 on this list with +5.56%.
- Capital
- Tashkent
- Continent
- Asia
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 37.05 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$147.04 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,968 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 51% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tashkent.
Also ranks #2 in literacy rate · #4 in deposit interest rate · #5 in bank branches per 100,000 adults.
#10 Ireland
Ireland ranks #10 on this list with +4.98%.
- Capital
- Dublin
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 5.48 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$721.7 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$131,590 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 64.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #3 in gdp per capita ppp · #3 in air passengers carried · #3 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 over the five years to each country's latest year, as a percentage of the earlier value. Only countries that rose are listed.
Source: The World Bank, indicator AG.LND.FRST.K2. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.
The World Bank: Forest area (sq. km): 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.