In the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025, India has been placed 9th in the world in terms of total forest area. The FAO assessment shows that India moved up from 10th position in the previous assessment to 9th position, while continuing to maintain its 3rd position worldwide in net annual forest area gain. India accounts for about 72,739 thousand hectares of forest area, or roughly 72.7 million hectares, which is about 2% of the world total.
For exam preparation, this update links directly with environment, climate action, forest management and sustainable development. The world’s total forest area is about 4.14 billion hectares, covering nearly 32% of Earth’s land area. India’s place among the top 10 countries is therefore not just a ranking fact; it is also a marker for questions on conservation, afforestation and long-term environmental policy. FAO has also ranked India 5th among major global carbon sinks, with Indian forests removing about 150 Mt of carbon dioxide per year during 2021-2025.
The static-GK linkage is with forest resources, biodiversity, climate change, carbon sinks and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15. The Global Forest Resources Assessment is a worldwide assessment based on official national data and its data contribute to reporting on SDG indicators related to forest area and sustainable forest management. In RAS and UPSC prelims, the likely questions are around the rank, institution, report and figures; in mains, the same facts can be connected with conservation policy and climate goals.