Global Forest Biomass Concentrated in South America in 2025

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025, global forest biomass in 2025 will reach approximately 709 gigatons, or the equivalent of 171 tons per hectare (ha).

Biomass, as defined by FAO, refers to organic matter found both above and below ground, whether living or dead, such as trees, agricultural crops, grass, leaf litter, roots, and so on.

The FAO data is an accumulation from 215 countries that reported aboveground and belowground forest biomass, and 101 countries that reported deadwood biomass.

FAO explained that living biomass (aboveground and belowground) totals nearly 647 gigatons, or about 156 tons per ha. Meanwhile, deadwood biomass in forests is estimated at 61.9 gigatons of dry matter, equivalent to 14.9 tons per ha.

Among all regions, South America holds the largest proportion of global forest biomass, accounting for nearly one-third of the total.

The following is the volume of global forest biomass in 2025 by region and reserve type:

South America

• Aboveground: 156 gigatons
• Belowground: 37 gigatons
• Deadwood: 11 gigatons
• Total: 204 gigatons

Africa

• Aboveground: 91 gigatons
• Belowground: 29 gigatons
• Deadwood: 9 gigatons
• Total: 129 gigatons

Europe

• Aboveground: 93 gigatons
• Belowground: 25 gigatons
• Deadwood: 10 gigatons
• Total: 128 gigatons

North and Central America

• Aboveground: 80 gigatons
• Belowground: 17 gigatons
• Deadwood: 23 gigatons
• Total: 120 gigatons

Asia

• Aboveground: 68 gigatons
• Belowground: 18 gigatons
• Deadwood: 4 gigatons
• Total: 90 gigatons

Oceania

• Aboveground: 23 gigatons
• Belowground: 9 gigatons
• Deadwood: 5 gigatons
• Total: 37 gigatons.

According to FAO, regions with tropical forests show the highest biomass density, exceeding 200 tons per ha in Oceania and South America.

"The average biomass per unit area in Africa is 194 tons per hectare—although this figure reaches 300 tons per ha in West and Central Africa," FAO explained.