Switzerland's forest cover rose from 29.6 % in 1994 to 32.4 % in 2023.
Switzerland · Environment
Forests, air quality, land, water and protected areas.
10 indicators · 10 with data
Land
Switzerland's forest area rose from 11,706 km in 1994 to 12,794 km in 2023.
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area)
% of land area
145th of 213 · 45th in Europe & C. Asia
Switzerland's terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) fell from 24.8 % in 2013 to 12.5 % in 2025.
Switzerland's agricultural land (% of land area) fell from 40.1 % in 1994 to 37.8 % in 2023.
Switzerland's arable land (% of land area) fell from 10.6 % in 1994 to 10.0 % in 2023.
Air
Switzerland's air pollution (pm2.5) fell from 22.8 in 1994 to 8.3 in 2023.
Water
Switzerland's water stress fell from 6.6 % in 1993 to 4.2 % in 2022.
Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita
cubic metres per person
67th of 181 · 19th in Europe & C. Asia
Switzerland's renewable internal freshwater resources per capita fell from 5,823 in 1993 to 4,603 in 2022.
Access
Switzerland's safe drinking water fell from 96.7 % in 2000 to 96.7 % in 2024.
Switzerland's safe sanitation rose from 97.8 % in 2000 to 99.7 % in 2024.