Forest area (sdg_15_11)

1.1. Contact organisation

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

1.2. Contact organisation unit

E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development

1.3. Contact name

Confidential because of GDPR

1.4. Contact person function

Confidential because of GDPR

1.5. Contact mail address

Joseph Bech building
5, Rue Alphonse Weicker
L-2721 Luxembourg

1.6. Contact email address

Confidential because of GDPR

1.7. Contact phone number

Confidential because of GDPR

1.8. Contact fax number

Confidential because of GDPR

2.1. Metadata last certified

14 March 2023

2.2. Metadata last posted

30 April 2025

2.3. Metadata last update

30 April 2025

The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 15 on protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of land which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under 'Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature'.

SDG 15 seeks to protect, restore and promote the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial, inland-water and mountain ecosystems. This includes efforts to sustainably manage forests and halt deforestation, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, halt biodiversity loss and protect threatened species.

The indicator can be considered as identical to global SDG indicator 15.1.1 "Forest area as a proportion of total land area".

4.1. Data description

The indicator measures the proportion of forest areas in comparison to the total surface area of the country. The data used for this indicator originate from the European Forest Accounts (EFA) and are consistent with the FAO definition of forest.

4.2. Unit of measure

i. square kilometre all forest area FAO
ii. share of forest area of total land area

4.3. Reference Period

Calendar year.

4.4. Accuracy - overall

The indicator is produced according to the quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to “Related metadata”).

4.5. Source data

4.5.1. Source data - Organisation

ESS, European Forest Accounts (EFA) questionnaire

4.5.2. Source data - Comment

Data source: EFA data collection (for_area_efa)

Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

5.1. Frequency of dissemination

5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade

Every year

5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment

Indicator is updated every year.

5.2. Timeliness

5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade

T+2 years

5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment

Indicator is updated 2 years after the end of the reference year.

6.1. Reference area

6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade

All EU MS

6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment

Data for the same variable are in general well aligned among EFA, FRA and Forest Europe.

6.2. Comparability - geographical

6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade

All EU MS

6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment

Data are comparable between all EU Member States.

6.3. Coverage - Time

6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade

5 to 10 years

6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment

Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in year 2015.

6.4. Comparability - over time

6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade

> 4 data points

6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment

Length of comparable time series without methodological break is larger than 4 data points.

7.1. Dissemination format - Publications

Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).

7.2. Dissemination format - online database

See table  sdg_15_10

7.3. Dissemination format - other

Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/sdi/overview

Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.