European forests are one of the continent's most significant natural and economic resources. The latest State of Europe's Forests 2025 data confirm that, overall, they are growing faster than they are being utilised. At the same time, forestry must adapt to the increasing demand for timber and the risks posed by climate change. In this landscape, Latvia stands out as one of the most forested countries in the European Union, where the forest sector plays a decisive role in the national economy.

Summary of European forest statistics

Forest area and timber balance

Since 1990, the area of European forests has increased by 11%, reaching 232 million hectares, while the growing stock of timber has risen by 11.9 billion m³, reaching 38.3 billion m³. The annual increment of European forests is 682 million m³, while the volume of logging is 550 million m³. This means that 80.7% of the annual increment is being utilised (in the EU-27 countries, this figure is higher at 91.3%).

Nature conservation and certification

Protected forest areas in Europe cover 50.4 million hectares, or 26.4% of the forest area, including 16.9% protected specifically for the conservation of biodiversity. Only 0.7% of forests are under strict protection without economic activity, while in the majority of protected areas (11.2%), active habitat management is carried out. The area of sustainably certified forests reached 117.5 million hectares in 2024.

Economy, employment and energy

Approximately 2.4 million people work in the European forest sector, although employment has fallen by 25% since 2000. The sector's gross value added is 113.3 billion euros, accounting for 0.83% of total European GDP. The largest producers of roundwood in Europe are Germany (78.6 million m³), Sweden (75.2 million m³) and Finland (64.9 million m³), while timber provides approximately 6% of Europe's total energy consumption.

Climate risks and forest health

Forests sequester approximately 106 million tonnes of carbon each year, helping to mitigate climate change; however, their health is threatened by climate impacts—in 2024, 31.1% of assessed trees were moderately or severely damaged. The main risks are wildfires, the proliferation of pests (especially bark beetles) and storms.

Ownership and investment

In terms of ownership, forests in Europe are divided almost equally: 48.8% belong to private individuals, while 51.2% are state and municipal property. Annual investments in the sector's capital reach an average of 26.5 euros per hectare—totalling 4.3 billion euros—while, in terms of age structure, 64% of European forests consist of even-aged stands.

Comparison of European and Latvian forest statistics

In terms of forest cover, Latvia ranks 5th in the European Union—behind Finland, Sweden, Slovenia and Estonia; in our country, the forest sector has a significantly higher economic significance than the European average.

Forest cover and area per capita

While forests cover an average of 35.4% of the land area in Europe, in Latvia they occupy up to 54% of the country's territory, or approximately 3.44 million hectares. This means that Latvia is about a third more forested than the European average. Per capita, Latvia has approximately 1.86 hectares of forest—which is more than three times the European average (0.3–0.5 ha), although it lags behind the record-holder, Finland (4.06 ha).

Ownership structure

In this regard, Latvia is very close to the average European model. Just as in Europe as a whole—48.8% private and 51.2% public forests—the distribution in Latvia is also balanced: approximately 50% of forests are managed by the state (AS “Latvijas valsts meži”), while the other 50% belong to private and other owners. Unlike in Northern Europe, where private ownership reaches as much as 72%, the state’s role in forest management remains highly significant in Latvia.

Timber increment and logging intensity

In Latvia, the total growing stock of timber is approximately 680 million m³, with an annual increment reaching about 26.8 million m³. On average, 15.8–17.6 million m³ of timber is harvested in Latvia annually, which is approximately 65–70% of the annual increment. Compared to Europe as a whole (80.7%) and particularly the EU-27 countries (91.3%), logging intensity in Latvia is more moderate, ensuring the continuous accumulation of total timber stock.

The economic contribution of our sector

While the forest sector accounts for an average of 0.83% of GDP in Europe, in Latvia this figure is approximately five times higher. Forestry and logging alone account for about 2% of Latvia's GDP, but together with wood processing and furniture manufacturing, the sector's share reaches 5.4% of the country's GDP; when adding the value added generated by related and service industries, the total impact of the sector reaches 9% of Latvia's GDP, making it one of the most important pillars of our country's economy.

Composition of tree species in forests

In European forests, conifers account for approximately 43%, broadleaves for 40% and mixed forests for 17%. In Latvia, the forest composition is divided into similar parts: approximately 50% consists of conifer stands—mainly pine and spruce—and 50% of broadleaf stands, where birch predominates at about 30% of the total forest area.

Sources: Forest Europe report State of Europe's Forests 2025 (summary by Forest.fi), data from the State Forest Service and the Central Statistical Bureau on the Latvian forest sector.