Forestry is more than timber and trees, it is a global economic engine and a climate lever that moved at scale in recent years. Global wood products trade hit $250 billion in 2022, while the forestry sector still supports job counts in the millions and produces industrial roundwood at 1.92 billion cubic meters. What is striking is how those outputs translate into GDP, exports, and labor differently from country to country.
Key Takeaways
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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 sector is a trillion dollar global industry, supporting millions of jobs and driving major trade.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Value Statistics30 stats
01
The global forestry industry contributed $1.5 trillion to GDP in 2022
02
US forestry added $330 billion to GDP in 2021
03
Canada's forest sector GDP was CAD 108 billion in 2022
04
Brazil's forestry exports generated $14 billion in 2023
05
Sweden's forest industry turnover was SEK 400 billion in 2022
06
Finland's forestry contributed 5% to national exports worth EUR 20 billion in 2022
07
Russia's forest products exports valued $12 billion in 2021
08
Indonesia's forestry revenue was IDR 50 trillion in 2022
09
New Zealand forestry exports reached NZD 6.8 billion in 2023
10
Germany's forest sector value added was EUR 50 billion in 2022
11
Australia's forestry industry generated AUD 24 billion in 2021-22
12
Chile's forestry exports totaled $5.5 billion in 2022
13
South Africa's forestry contributed ZAR 80 billion to economy in 2022
14
Vietnam's forestry GDP share was 1.2% or VND 150 trillion in 2022
15
Poland's forest sector revenue was PLN 20 billion in 2022
16
France forestry economic impact was EUR 60 billion in 2021
17
Austria's forestry added EUR 15 billion to GDP in 2022
18
Norway forest industry turnover was NOK 100 billion in 2022
19
Ireland's forestry sector value was EUR 2.5 billion in 2022
20
Denmark forestry contributed DKK 10 billion in 2021
21
Global wood products trade was $250 billion in 2022
22
US forest products exports $37 billion in 2022
23
EU forest sector exports EUR 80 billion in 2022
24
China forest imports cost $50 billion in 2022
25
Japan wood imports $20 billion in 2021
26
India forestry trade deficit $2 billion in 2022
27
Argentina forestry exports $1.2 billion in 2022
28
Uruguay wood exports $1.5 billion in 2022
29
Malaysia palm oil from forests $40 billion in 2022
30
Thailand rubber exports $6 billion in 2022
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Employment Statistics29 stats
01
In 2022, the US forestry sector employed 850,000 workers directly and indirectly
02
Canada had 220,000 jobs in forestry and logging in 2022, with 60% in British Columbia
03
Brazil's forestry industry supported 1.2 million jobs in 2023
04
Sweden employed 70,000 in forest industries in 2022
05
Finland's forestry sector jobs totaled 25,000 direct in 2022
06
Russia's forest sector employed 900,000 in 2021
07
Indonesia had 1.5 million forestry workers in 2022
08
New Zealand forestry employed 25,000 full-time equivalents in 2023
09
Germany had 120,000 forestry jobs in 2022
10
Australia's forestry sector jobs were 70,000 in 2021-22
11
Chile employed 50,000 in forestry in 2022
12
South Africa had 150,000 forestry jobs in 2022
13
Vietnam's forestry employment reached 4 million in 2022
14
Poland employed 90,000 in forestry in 2022
15
France had 80,000 forestry workers in 2021
16
Austria's forestry jobs totaled 40,000 in 2022
17
Norway employed 15,000 in forestry in 2022
18
Ireland had 12,000 forestry jobs in 2022
19
Denmark employed 5,000 in forestry in 2021
20
Global forestry employment was 13.5 million in 2020
21
US logging employment was 50,000 in 2022
22
EU forestry direct employment was 500,000 in 2022
23
China employed 5 million in forestry in 2022
24
Japan had 40,000 forestry workers in 2021
25
India employed 10 million in forestry sector in 2022
26
Argentina forestry jobs were 30,000 in 2022
27
Uruguay had 20,000 forestry employees in 2022
28
Malaysia employed 200,000 in forestry in 2022
29
Thailand forestry jobs totaled 300,000 in 2022
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, global industrial roundwood production reached 1.92 billion cubic meters, with softwood comprising 58% of the total
02
The United States harvested 11.0 billion cubic feet of timber in 2021, marking a 2% increase from 2020
03
Canada's forestry sector produced 145 million cubic meters of lumber in 2022, primarily from British Columbia
04
Brazil's planted forests yielded 25 million cubic meters of eucalyptus pulpwood in 2023
05
Sweden produced 70 million cubic meters of sawn timber in 2022, representing 10% of global supply
06
Russia's total wood removal was 437 million cubic meters in 2021, with Siberia contributing 60%
07
Finland's forest industry output included 12.5 million tons of sawnwood in 2022
08
Indonesia harvested 89 million cubic meters of logs in 2022, mainly from Acacia plantations
09
New Zealand's radiata pine harvest reached 28 million cubic meters in 2023
10
Germany's annual timber production averaged 55 million cubic meters from 2018-2022
11
Australia's native forest harvest declined to 2.5 million cubic meters in 2021-22
12
Chile produced 20 million cubic meters of Pinus radiata logs in 2022
13
South Africa's forestry plantations yielded 14 million cubic meters in 2022, with eucalyptus at 60%
14
Vietnam's planted forest production hit 30 million cubic meters in 2022
15
Poland harvested 45 million cubic meters of wood in 2022
16
France's total wood production was 50 million cubic meters in 2021
17
Austria produced 20 million cubic meters of roundwood in 2022
18
Norway's harvest volume reached 12 million cubic meters in 2022
19
Ireland felled 4.5 million cubic meters of timber in 2022
20
Denmark's forest production totaled 2.8 million cubic meters in 2021
21
Global pulpwood production was 170 million tons in 2022
22
US softwood lumber production was 35 billion board feet in 2022
23
EU-27 roundwood production increased 3% to 450 million cubic meters in 2022
24
China's timber harvest was 80 million cubic meters in 2022
25
Japan's domestic wood production was 20 million cubic meters in 2021
26
India's forest products output reached 5 million cubic meters in 2022
27
Argentina's pine and eucalyptus harvest was 12 million cubic meters in 2022
28
Uruguay produced 8.5 million cubic meters of eucalyptus in 2022
29
Malaysia logged 20 million cubic meters from plantations in 2022
30
Thailand's rubberwood production was 4 million cubic meters in 2022
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sustainability Statistics30 stats
01
Global forest area is 4.06 billion hectares, covering 31% of land surface in 2020
02
US forests cover 766 million acres, absorbing 12% of CO2 emissions in 2022
03
Canada has 347 million hectares of forest, 9% of global total
04
Brazil lost 1.5 million hectares of Amazon forest in 2022
05
Sweden manages 70% of forests under FSC certification in 2022
06
Finland's forests store 3.3 billion tons of carbon in 2022
07
Russia has 815 million hectares of forest, 20% of world forests
08
Indonesia reforested 600,000 hectares in 2022
09
New Zealand planted 40,000 hectares annually in 2023
10
Germany has 11.4 million hectares of forest, 32% of land area
11
Australia lost 150,000 hectares to bushfires in 2021-22
12
Chile certified 2 million hectares sustainable in 2022
13
South Africa planted 50,000 hectares in 2022
14
Vietnam afforested 200,000 hectares in 2022
15
Poland's forest cover is 30% or 9.5 million hectares in 2022
16
France forests sequester 50 million tons CO2 yearly
17
Austria 47% forest cover, sustainable yield 20 million m3/year
18
Norway planted 30 million trees in 2022
19
Ireland afforested 5,000 hectares in 2022
20
Denmark forest cover 15%, carbon sink 2 million tons/year
21
Global deforestation rate 10 million hectares/year 2015-2020
22
US net forest gain 1 million acres 2000-2020
23
EU forests increased 5% since 1990 to 160 million hectares
24
China planted 32 million hectares since 1978
25
Japan 67% forest cover, low deforestation rate 0.01%
26
India forest cover up 2,261 sq km 2019-2021
27
Argentina reforested 100,000 hectares in 2022
28
Uruguay 8% forest cover from plantations
29
Malaysia FSC certified 5 million hectares in 2022
30
Thailand reduced deforestation by 50% 2015-2022
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Trade Statistics30 stats
01
Global sawnwood trade volume was 130 million cubic meters in 2022
02
US exported 6.5 billion board feet of softwood lumber in 2022
03
Canada exported CAD 40 billion in forest products in 2022
04
Brazil pulp exports reached 19 million tons in 2023
05
Sweden exported 18 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2022
06
Finland wood exports EUR 11 billion in 2022
07
Russia exported 20 million cubic meters logs before 2022 ban
08
Indonesia plywood exports 3 million cubic meters in 2022
09
New Zealand log exports 3.2 million cubic meters to China in 2023
10
Germany imported 40 million cubic meters roundwood in 2022
11
Australia exported AUD 2.5 billion woodchips in 2021-22
12
Chile exported 4.5 million cubic meters logs in 2022
13
South Africa exported 1 million cubic meters lumber in 2022
14
Vietnam exported $14 billion wood products in 2022
15
Poland exported PLN 10 billion wood in 2022
16
France imported 15 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2021
17
Austria wood exports EUR 5 billion in 2022
18
Norway exported 9 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2022
19
Ireland exported EUR 1 billion forest products in 2022
20
Denmark imported 2 million cubic meters wood in 2021
21
Global paper trade 110 million tons in 2022
22
US lumber imports 40 billion board feet in 2022
23
EU imported 50 million cubic meters tropical wood in 2022
24
China imported 70 million cubic meters logs in 2022
25
Japan imported 30 million cubic meters sawnwood in 2021
26
India imported $3 billion wood in 2022
27
Argentina exported 500,000 cubic meters sawnwood in 2022
28
Uruguay exported 2.5 million tons pulp in 2022
29
Malaysia exported $12 billion logs and timber in 2022
30
Thailand exported $4 billion furniture from wood in 2022
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Forestry Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/forestry-industry-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Forestry Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/forestry-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Forestry Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/forestry-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
100 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level