The forest and the economy

The European forest industry plays a crucial role in the transition to a sustainable society and a circular economy. It also significantly contributes to Europe’s economic prosperity.

In 2022, approximately 3.6 million people were employed in forestry and the wood-based industry in the EU, an increase of 1.4 per cent compared to 2012. This accounts for about 1.8 per cent of total employment in the EU. (ec.europa.eu)

In 2022, the EU produced an estimated 510 million cubic meters of roundwood, a significant portion of which was used for sawn timber and veneer, as well as pulp and paper production. (ec.europa.eu)

Europe’s forests cover approximately 1.02 billion hectares, which is around 25 per cent of the world’s total forest area, estimated at 4.06 billion hectares (according to FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020).

23 per cent of all employment in Swedish industry is forestry-related, corresponding to 120,000 jobs

The top five European countries with the most forest cover

1

Sweden

28 million hectares (about 69% of the country’s land area is forested).
2

Finland

23 million hectares (approximately 75% forest cover, one of the highest in Europe).
3

Spain

18 million hectares (around 37% of the country is covered by forests).
4

France

17 million hectares (about 31% of France’s land area is forested).
5

Germany

11.4 million hectares (around 32% of the country is covered by forests).