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Environment

High confidence

Forest cover

45.7%
2021latest data
76
out of 100 — Progressing
+2.6% per year
5-year average trend

What this means

Percentage of land area covered by forest. Nepal's community forestry programme reversed deforestation — cover has risen from 26% in 1990 to 45% in 2021.

Historical data & projections to 2040

1990–2021
Current trend
64.12%
by 2040
Moderate reform (+25%)
69.72%
by 2040
Aggressive reform (+50%)
75.78%
by 2040
Stagnation (-50%)
54.17%
by 2040

Historical data

YearValueSourceStatus
202145.7%World Bank Open DataVerified
202045.7%World Bank Open DataVerified
201544.7%World Bank Open DataVerified
201040.4%World Bank Open DataVerified
200029.5%World Bank Open DataVerified
199026.3%World Bank Open DataVerified

At a glance

Developed country benchmark
60%
Nepal's 2040 target
45%
Progress to benchmark
76% of the way there
Direction
Higher is better
Data confidence
High confidence

Regional comparison

Nepal
45.7%
India
22%
Bangladesh
11%
Bhutan
71%
Benchmark
60%

Sources

Latest available: 2021 · Updated by Nepal Next: 30 Jul 2026