Infographic: The Four Major Types of Forests Around the World

Key Takeaways

The tropics are home to the biggest share of the world’s forests, at 45% of the total.
After the tropics, the world’s forests are mostly found in boreal, temperate, and subtropical zones.

Forests cover nearly one-third of the world’s land area, playing a vital role in storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and regulating the planet’s climate. This graphic uses data from the UN FAO’s 2025 Forest Resources Assessment to map out the four major types of forests: tropical, subtropical, temperate, and boreal.