From massive global production and a trillion-dollar economic impact to vital environmental roles and millions of jobs, the forestry industry is a cornerstone of the world's economy and ecosystems, as these compelling statistics reveal.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global industrial roundwood production reached 1.92 billion cubic meters, with softwood comprising 58% of the total
- The United States harvested 11.0 billion cubic feet of timber in 2021, marking a 2% increase from 2020
- Canada's forestry sector produced 145 million cubic meters of lumber in 2022, primarily from British Columbia
- In 2022, the US forestry sector employed 850,000 workers directly and indirectly
- Canada had 220,000 jobs in forestry and logging in 2022, with 60% in British Columbia
- Brazil's forestry industry supported 1.2 million jobs in 2023
- The global forestry industry contributed $1.5 trillion to GDP in 2022
- US forestry added $330 billion to GDP in 2021
- Canada's forest sector GDP was CAD 108 billion in 2022
- Global forest area is 4.06 billion hectares, covering 31% of land surface in 2020
- US forests cover 766 million acres, absorbing 12% of CO2 emissions in 2022
- Canada has 347 million hectares of forest, 9% of global total
- Global sawnwood trade volume was 130 million cubic meters in 2022
- US exported 6.5 billion board feet of softwood lumber in 2022
- Canada exported CAD 40 billion in forest products in 2022
The forestry industry is a vast global enterprise with large-scale production and trade.
Economic Value Statistics
- The global forestry industry contributed $1.5 trillion to GDP in 2022
- US forestry added $330 billion to GDP in 2021
- Canada's forest sector GDP was CAD 108 billion in 2022
- Brazil's forestry exports generated $14 billion in 2023
- Sweden's forest industry turnover was SEK 400 billion in 2022
- Finland's forestry contributed 5% to national exports worth EUR 20 billion in 2022
- Russia's forest products exports valued $12 billion in 2021
- Indonesia's forestry revenue was IDR 50 trillion in 2022
- New Zealand forestry exports reached NZD 6.8 billion in 2023
- Germany's forest sector value added was EUR 50 billion in 2022
- Australia's forestry industry generated AUD 24 billion in 2021-22
- Chile's forestry exports totaled $5.5 billion in 2022
- South Africa's forestry contributed ZAR 80 billion to economy in 2022
- Vietnam's forestry GDP share was 1.2% or VND 150 trillion in 2022
- Poland's forest sector revenue was PLN 20 billion in 2022
- France forestry economic impact was EUR 60 billion in 2021
- Austria's forestry added EUR 15 billion to GDP in 2022
- Norway forest industry turnover was NOK 100 billion in 2022
- Ireland's forestry sector value was EUR 2.5 billion in 2022
- Denmark forestry contributed DKK 10 billion in 2021
- Global wood products trade was $250 billion in 2022
- US forest products exports $37 billion in 2022
- EU forest sector exports EUR 80 billion in 2022
- China forest imports cost $50 billion in 2022
- Japan wood imports $20 billion in 2021
- India forestry trade deficit $2 billion in 2022
- Argentina forestry exports $1.2 billion in 2022
- Uruguay wood exports $1.5 billion in 2022
- Malaysia palm oil from forests $40 billion in 2022
- Thailand rubber exports $6 billion in 2022
Economic Value Statistics Interpretation
From the trillion-dollar global footprint to the nuanced trade deficits and national export triumphs, these figures collectively paint a picture of an industry whose roots are not only deeply ecological but form a surprisingly robust and indispensable financial trunk supporting economies worldwide.
Employment Statistics
- In 2022, the US forestry sector employed 850,000 workers directly and indirectly
- Canada had 220,000 jobs in forestry and logging in 2022, with 60% in British Columbia
- Brazil's forestry industry supported 1.2 million jobs in 2023
- Sweden employed 70,000 in forest industries in 2022
- Finland's forestry sector jobs totaled 25,000 direct in 2022
- Russia's forest sector employed 900,000 in 2021
- Indonesia had 1.5 million forestry workers in 2022
- New Zealand forestry employed 25,000 full-time equivalents in 2023
- Germany had 120,000 forestry jobs in 2022
- Australia's forestry sector jobs were 70,000 in 2021-22
- Chile employed 50,000 in forestry in 2022
- South Africa had 150,000 forestry jobs in 2022
- Vietnam's forestry employment reached 4 million in 2022
- Poland employed 90,000 in forestry in 2022
- France had 80,000 forestry workers in 2021
- Austria's forestry jobs totaled 40,000 in 2022
- Norway employed 15,000 in forestry in 2022
- Ireland had 12,000 forestry jobs in 2022
- Denmark employed 5,000 in forestry in 2021
- Global forestry employment was 13.5 million in 2020
- US logging employment was 50,000 in 2022
- EU forestry direct employment was 500,000 in 2022
- China employed 5 million in forestry in 2022
- Japan had 40,000 forestry workers in 2021
- India employed 10 million in forestry sector in 2022
- Argentina forestry jobs were 30,000 in 2022
- Uruguay had 20,000 forestry employees in 2022
- Malaysia employed 200,000 in forestry in 2022
- Thailand forestry jobs totaled 300,000 in 2022
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While the global forestry industry may not be the largest employer on paper, it's a serious contender that supports millions of jobs, proving that the world's workforce, like its trees, is firmly rooted in the forests.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, global industrial roundwood production reached 1.92 billion cubic meters, with softwood comprising 58% of the total
- The United States harvested 11.0 billion cubic feet of timber in 2021, marking a 2% increase from 2020
- Canada's forestry sector produced 145 million cubic meters of lumber in 2022, primarily from British Columbia
- Brazil's planted forests yielded 25 million cubic meters of eucalyptus pulpwood in 2023
- Sweden produced 70 million cubic meters of sawn timber in 2022, representing 10% of global supply
- Russia's total wood removal was 437 million cubic meters in 2021, with Siberia contributing 60%
- Finland's forest industry output included 12.5 million tons of sawnwood in 2022
- Indonesia harvested 89 million cubic meters of logs in 2022, mainly from Acacia plantations
- New Zealand's radiata pine harvest reached 28 million cubic meters in 2023
- Germany's annual timber production averaged 55 million cubic meters from 2018-2022
- Australia's native forest harvest declined to 2.5 million cubic meters in 2021-22
- Chile produced 20 million cubic meters of Pinus radiata logs in 2022
- South Africa's forestry plantations yielded 14 million cubic meters in 2022, with eucalyptus at 60%
- Vietnam's planted forest production hit 30 million cubic meters in 2022
- Poland harvested 45 million cubic meters of wood in 2022
- France's total wood production was 50 million cubic meters in 2021
- Austria produced 20 million cubic meters of roundwood in 2022
- Norway's harvest volume reached 12 million cubic meters in 2022
- Ireland felled 4.5 million cubic meters of timber in 2022
- Denmark's forest production totaled 2.8 million cubic meters in 2021
- Global pulpwood production was 170 million tons in 2022
- US softwood lumber production was 35 billion board feet in 2022
- EU-27 roundwood production increased 3% to 450 million cubic meters in 2022
- China's timber harvest was 80 million cubic meters in 2022
- Japan's domestic wood production was 20 million cubic meters in 2021
- India's forest products output reached 5 million cubic meters in 2022
- Argentina's pine and eucalyptus harvest was 12 million cubic meters in 2022
- Uruguay produced 8.5 million cubic meters of eucalyptus in 2022
- Malaysia logged 20 million cubic meters from plantations in 2022
- Thailand's rubberwood production was 4 million cubic meters in 2022
Production Statistics Interpretation
While the world's demand for forest products grows at a steady, unrelenting pace, the data reveals a clear, strategic shift from reliance on dwindling native forests toward a vast, planet-spanning network of intensively managed plantations that now anchor the global supply chain.
Sustainability Statistics
- Global forest area is 4.06 billion hectares, covering 31% of land surface in 2020
- US forests cover 766 million acres, absorbing 12% of CO2 emissions in 2022
- Canada has 347 million hectares of forest, 9% of global total
- Brazil lost 1.5 million hectares of Amazon forest in 2022
- Sweden manages 70% of forests under FSC certification in 2022
- Finland's forests store 3.3 billion tons of carbon in 2022
- Russia has 815 million hectares of forest, 20% of world forests
- Indonesia reforested 600,000 hectares in 2022
- New Zealand planted 40,000 hectares annually in 2023
- Germany has 11.4 million hectares of forest, 32% of land area
- Australia lost 150,000 hectares to bushfires in 2021-22
- Chile certified 2 million hectares sustainable in 2022
- South Africa planted 50,000 hectares in 2022
- Vietnam afforested 200,000 hectares in 2022
- Poland's forest cover is 30% or 9.5 million hectares in 2022
- France forests sequester 50 million tons CO2 yearly
- Austria 47% forest cover, sustainable yield 20 million m3/year
- Norway planted 30 million trees in 2022
- Ireland afforested 5,000 hectares in 2022
- Denmark forest cover 15%, carbon sink 2 million tons/year
- Global deforestation rate 10 million hectares/year 2015-2020
- US net forest gain 1 million acres 2000-2020
- EU forests increased 5% since 1990 to 160 million hectares
- China planted 32 million hectares since 1978
- Japan 67% forest cover, low deforestation rate 0.01%
- India forest cover up 2,261 sq km 2019-2021
- Argentina reforested 100,000 hectares in 2022
- Uruguay 8% forest cover from plantations
- Malaysia FSC certified 5 million hectares in 2022
- Thailand reduced deforestation by 50% 2015-2022
Sustainability Statistics Interpretation
Our global forest ledger reveals a precarious balance sheet, where hard-won gains in stewardship are stubbornly offset by staggering, smoldering losses.
Trade Statistics
- Global sawnwood trade volume was 130 million cubic meters in 2022
- US exported 6.5 billion board feet of softwood lumber in 2022
- Canada exported CAD 40 billion in forest products in 2022
- Brazil pulp exports reached 19 million tons in 2023
- Sweden exported 18 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2022
- Finland wood exports EUR 11 billion in 2022
- Russia exported 20 million cubic meters logs before 2022 ban
- Indonesia plywood exports 3 million cubic meters in 2022
- New Zealand log exports 3.2 million cubic meters to China in 2023
- Germany imported 40 million cubic meters roundwood in 2022
- Australia exported AUD 2.5 billion woodchips in 2021-22
- Chile exported 4.5 million cubic meters logs in 2022
- South Africa exported 1 million cubic meters lumber in 2022
- Vietnam exported $14 billion wood products in 2022
- Poland exported PLN 10 billion wood in 2022
- France imported 15 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2021
- Austria wood exports EUR 5 billion in 2022
- Norway exported 9 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2022
- Ireland exported EUR 1 billion forest products in 2022
- Denmark imported 2 million cubic meters wood in 2021
- Global paper trade 110 million tons in 2022
- US lumber imports 40 billion board feet in 2022
- EU imported 50 million cubic meters tropical wood in 2022
- China imported 70 million cubic meters logs in 2022
- Japan imported 30 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2021
- India imported $3 billion wood in 2022
- Argentina exported 500,000 cubic meters sawnwood in 2022
- Uruguay exported 2.5 million tons pulp in 2022
- Malaysia exported $12 billion logs and timber in 2022
- Thailand exported $4 billion furniture from wood in 2022
Trade Statistics Interpretation
While the global forest may not whisper its secrets, these numbers shout a clear story of a deeply interconnected, economically vital, and delicately balanced industry where timber truly makes the world go 'round—one board foot, cubic meter, and billion-dollar shipment at a time.
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