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Countries with the largest forest carbon sinks 2025: Forests cover approximately 4.14 billion hectares, around one-third (32 per cent) of the Earth’s land area, according to a recent FAO report.
Deforestation remains a major global challenge, occurring at an alarming rate of 10.9 million hectares annually. While still high, this represents a slowdown compared to 17.6 million hectares per year in 1990–2000.
Forests also continue to act as a net carbon sink, removing roughly 3.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (Gt CO₂) annually between 2021 and 2025, as per the 2025 Forest Resources Assessment.
Russia, China, and the United States led global carbon sequestration on forest land, recording annual removals of 1,150 Mt CO₂, 840 Mt CO₂, and 410 Mt CO₂, respectively, in 2021–25.
In contrast, countries like Brazil (1,420 Mt CO₂), the Democratic Republic of Congo (160 Mt CO₂), and Peru (130 Mt CO₂) recorded the largest emissions due to net forest conversion.
Collectively, the top ten countries accounted for more than 70 per cent of global deforestation during this period.
India ranked fourth globally in forest carbon sequestration, removing an average of 150 Mt CO₂ per year between 2021 and 2025.
Notably, the top ten countries responsible for the largest carbon sinks collectively represented nearly 90 per cent of global forest carbon removals.
| Rank | Country | Mean Annual Carbon Sink (Mt CO₂/year) |
| 1 | Russian Federation | −1,150 |
| 2 | China | −840 |
| 3 | United States of America | −410 |
| 4 | Brazil | −340 |
| 5 | India | −150 |
| 6 | Belarus | −150 |
| 7 | South Africa | −75 to −35 |
| 8 | Ghana | −75 to −35 |
| 9 | Republic of Korea | −75 to −35 |
| 10 | Honduras | −75 to −35 |
Source: Forest Emissions and Removals – Global, Regional and Country Trends 1990-2025 | FAO 2025 – FAOSTAT: Emissions from forests. [Accessed October 2025]
