United Kingdom's forest cover rose from 11.8 % in 1994 to 13.3 % in 2023.
United Kingdom · Environment
Forests, air quality, land, water and protected areas.
10 indicators · 10 with data
Land
United Kingdom's forest area rose from 28,484 km in 1994 to 32,154 km in 2023.
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area)
% of land area
45th of 213 · 16th in Europe & C. Asia
United Kingdom's terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) rose from 28.0 % in 2013 to 28.4 % in 2025.
United Kingdom's agricultural land (% of land area) fell from 72.0 % in 1994 to 70.3 % in 2023.
United Kingdom's arable land (% of land area) rose from 24.4 % in 1994 to 25.0 % in 2023.
Air
United Kingdom's air pollution (pm2.5) fell from 19.5 in 1994 to 9.5 in 2023.
Water
United Kingdom's water stress fell from 8.3 % in 1993 to 5.8 % in 2022.
Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita
cubic metres per person
103rd of 181 · 33rd in Europe & C. Asia
United Kingdom's renewable internal freshwater resources per capita fell from 2,512 in 1993 to 2,144 in 2022.
Access
United Kingdom's safe drinking water fell from 100.0 % in 2000 to 99.8 % in 2024.
United Kingdom's safe sanitation rose from 97.3 % in 2000 to 97.8 % in 2024.