Forests and rainforests cover a large part of the Earth’s land surface and play a critical role in regulating climate, protecting biodiversity, and supporting millions of livelihoods. From vast boreal woodlands in the far north to dense tropical rainforests near the equator, these ecosystems store enormous amounts of carbon, regulate rainfall, and preserve unique plant and animal species. Understanding the largest forests and rainforests in the world helps highlight which regions hold the greatest ecological responsibility. This ranking compares major forest regions by total land area, offering a clear global perspective for researchers, policymakers, and environmental enthusiasts.
Forests are usually measured by their total continuous land coverage in square kilometers, using satellite mapping, national forest inventories, and environmental monitoring systems. Large forest regions may span multiple countries and climate zones, which explains why some entries cover entire continental belts rather than single protected reserves. Boreal forests dominate high-latitude regions with cold climates, while tropical rainforests thrive near the equator with warm temperatures and heavy rainfall. As climate change, deforestation, and conservation policies reshape global landscapes, tracking forest size remains an important indicator of environmental stability and long-term sustainability.
Top 10 Largest Forests and Rainforests in the World 2026
- Siberian Taiga: 13,000,000 km²
- Canadian Boreal Forest: 5,520,000 km²
- Amazon Rainforest: 5,500,000 km²
- Congo Rainforest: 1,780,000 km²
- Eastern Australian Forests: 1,240,000 km²
- Atlantic Forest: 1,100,000 km²
- New Guinea Rainforest: 786,000 km²
- Borneo Rainforest: 743,330 km²
- Central American Rainforests: 422,000 km²
- Pacific Temperate Rainforest: 293,000 km²
The top of the ranking is dominated by boreal forests, with the Siberian Taiga standing far ahead as the largest forest region on Earth. Its immense size reflects Russia’s vast northern landmass and cold climate that supports conifer-rich ecosystems. The Canadian Boreal Forest and the Amazon Rainforest follow closely, showing how both cold and tropical environments can sustain massive forest coverage. Tropical rainforests such as the Congo and Amazon are especially important for biodiversity and carbon storage, while temperate forests like the Pacific Temperate Rainforest demonstrate the ecological value of coastal and high-rainfall regions. The wide gap between the top three and the remaining entries highlights how only a few regions carry a disproportionate share of global forest area.
Full Data Table
| # | Forest | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siberian Taiga | 13,000,000 |
| 2 | Canadian Boreal Forest | 5,520,000 |
| 3 | Amazon Rainforest | 5,500,000 |
| 4 | Congo Rainforest | 1,780,000 |
| 5 | Eastern Australian Forests | 1,240,000 |
| 6 | Atlantic Forest | 1,100,000 |
| 7 | New Guinea Rainforest | 786,000 |
| 8 | Borneo Rainforest | 743,330 |
| 9 | Central American Rainforests | 422,000 |
| 10 | Pacific Temperate Rainforest | 293,000 |
| 11 | Valdivian Temperate Rainforest | 248,100 |
| 12 | Appalachian Temperate Forest | 193,000 |
| 13 | Western Ghats Rainforests | 160,000 |
| 14 | Tongass National Forest | 68,000 |
| 15 | Great Bear Rainforest | 64,000 |
| 16 | Xishuangbanna Rainforest | 19,000 |
| 17 | Daintree Rainforest | 12,000 |
| 18 | Monteverde Cloud Forest | 1,050 |
| 19 | Kakamega Forest | 238 |
| 20 | Sinharaja Rainforest | 88 |
| 21 | Silent Valley Buffer Forest | 80 |
| 22 | Knuckles Cloud Forest | 75 |
| 23 | Lambir Hills Rainforest | 70 |
| 24 | Agumbe Rainforest | 60 |
| 25 | Aralam Forest | 55 |
| 26 | Kakachi Rainforest | 50 |
| 27 | Mawphlang Sacred Forest | 45 |
| 28 | Bukit Timah Rainforest | 40 |
| 29 | Thattekad Forest | 25 |
| 30 | Sultanpur Forest | 1 |
Key Points
- The Siberian Taiga alone is larger than all other forests combined in many continents.
- Boreal forests occupy the top two positions, reflecting the vast land availability in northern latitudes.
- The Amazon Rainforest narrowly trails the Canadian Boreal Forest, making it the largest tropical forest region.
- African and South American rainforests continue to dominate tropical forest coverage globally.
- Island rainforests such as New Guinea and Borneo still rank among the world’s largest despite geographic limits.
- Temperate rainforests occupy smaller total areas but remain highly productive ecosystems.
- The size gap between rank one and rank ten illustrates the extreme concentration of forest area in a few regions.
Forests and rainforests remain essential pillars of global environmental health, economic stability, and climate regulation. Large forest regions act as carbon sinks, water regulators, and biodiversity reservoirs that benefit the entire planet. As population growth and land use pressures increase, maintaining these massive ecosystems becomes even more important for future generations. Continued monitoring, sustainable forestry practices, and international cooperation will shape how these forest giants evolve over the coming decades. Understanding their scale today provides valuable insight into the environmental challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
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