The pie charts compare the proportion of the world’s forests in five regions and the percentage of timber produced in each of these regions.
Overall, Africa contains the largest share of the world’s forests, whereas North America is the biggest producer of timber. In contrast, Africa has the lowest proportion of timber production despite having the greatest forest area.
Looking first at forest distribution, Africa accounts for the largest share at 27%, followed by North America with 25%. Europe represents 18%, while South America and Asia make up 16% and 14%, respectively, with Asia recording the smallest proportion.
Turning to timber production, North America ranks first, producing 30% of the world’s timber. South America is the second-largest producer at 23%, while Europe and Asia contribute 20% and 18% respectively. By comparison, Africa produces only 8% of global timber, which is less than half of its share of the world’s forests. Overall, North and South America produce relatively more timber than their forest shares, whereas Africa shows the opposite pattern.