Forest cover covers almost one-third of the world's land on Earth with trees and plants and helps sustain life by producing oxygen and storing carbon dioxide.
It is most important for human lives, homes, and livelihoods. All over the countries worldwide are always supporting the increase of natural ecosystems. But do you know which country has the highest forest cover in the world?
According to the latest FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) 2025 data, which is available in 2026, Russia, Brazil and Canada have the highest forest cover in the world.
Let’s explore this article in more detail, learn about these countries, and also learn what India's position is in terms of forest cover.
Which 3 Countries Have the Highest Forest Cover in the World?
The top three countries that have the highest forest cover in the world are:
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Russia
Brazil
Canada
Top 3 Countries With the Highest Forest Cover
|
Rank
|
Country
|
Forest Area in 2025
|
Share of World Forests
|
|
1
|
Russia
|
832.63 million hectares
|
20.1%
|
|
2
|
Brazil
|
486.09 million hectares
|
11.7%
|
|
3
|
Canada
|
368.82 million hectares
|
8.9%
|
Note: Together, these three countries have more than 40% of all the forests in the world.
1. Russia
Russia has the largest forest cover in the world. It has about 832.63 million hectares of forest, which is around 20.1% of the world's total forest area.
It is also the largest country in the world, which stretches across Europe and Asia and has a total area of 17,098,242 km².
It has the largest boreal forest area, also called the taiga. These forests are home to bears, wolves, reindeer and many types of birds
2. Brazil
Brazil has the second-largest forest cover in the world. It has about 486.09 million hectares of forest, which is around 11.7% of the world's total forest area.
Brazil is famously known for its Amazon rainforest, and the largest area of the Amazon is covered in Brazil only.
The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most important forests on Earth, which is home to thousands of plants and animals.
3. Canada
Canada has the third-largest forest cover in the world. It has about 368.82 million hectares of forest, which is around 8.9% of the world's total forest area.
Its forest area is spread across many parts of the country, and its forests include boreal forests, which cover a large part of northern Canada
What About India?
India also has a large forest area, but it does not come in the top three. According to the same FAO 2025 data, India had about 72.74 million hectares of forest, equal to around 1.8% of the world's total forest area.
India has many different types of forests, from the Himalayan forests in the north to tropical forests in the south and northeast.
The three countries with the largest forest areas in the world are:
1. Russia — 832.63 million hectares
2. Brazil — 486.09 million hectares
3. Canada — 368.82 million hectares
These figures come from the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025, which is the latest major global forest assessment available in 2026. FAO says its assessment uses official national data from countries around the world.