We all know how important trees are — they improve air and soil quality, give us shade and food, and provide habitat for the world’s wildlife.
Of course, it’s virtually impossible to specify the exact tree population, but we can offer estimates based on technology such as satellite images.
Let’s go!
How Many Trees Are in the World?
(Nature, 2015)
The approximate number of trees on the planet is 3.04 trillion. We know this thanks to a study by the renowned multidisciplinary science journal Nature, which developed the first spatially continuous map of forest tree density globally.
Other Interesting Info About Tree Numbers
Since we’ve answered the main question, we can delve further and focus on the population of trees in certain countries, different species, etc.
There are more trees than people.
(New York Daily News, 2015)
It’s estimated that there are around 420 trees per human on Earth. This isn’t surprising now that we know the global tree population and the fact that the human population has been well over 7 billion for years.
Russia is the country with the most trees.
(Local Tree Estimates, 2021)
There are an estimated 642 billion trees in Russia. Some 10% of the country’s forests are illegal. You might be surprised to learn trees can be illegal. In Russia, that’s because they are on what is supposed to be agricultural land.
Canada ranks 2nd in terms of the number of trees.
(Local Tree Estimates, 2021)
Canada is the world’s second-largest country in terms of both territory and tree numbers. The approximate tree population there is 318 billion, accounting for about 40% of the region.
The US has around 228 billion trees.
(Local Tree Estimates, 2021)
In that respect, the country is ranked 4th in the world, exceeded only by Russia, Canada, and Brazil. Moreover, the US is home to over 1,000 tree species, and its national tree is the Oak.
The US now has more trees than 100 years ago.
(Food and Agriculture Organization, 2000)
In 2000, The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said: “Forest growth nationally has exceeded harvest since the 1940s. By 1997, forest growth exceeded harvest by 42%, and the volume of forest growth was 380% greater than it had been in 1920.”
There are 73,300 estimated tree species.
(BBC, 2022)
Scientists actually believe the number of different types of trees is 14% higher, i.e., there are 9,200 species yet to be discovered.
The world roughly has 600 different types of oak.
(Sciencing, 2019)
Around 90 oak varieties grow in the US. In addition, some 100 types are native to China.
Approximately 15 billion trees are cut down each year.
(Nature, 2015)
Researchers say the global number has dropped by circa 46% since the beginning of human civilization. That’s concerning because deforestation is the main cause of 15% of carbon emissions, leading to global warming.
Some 5 million trees are planted every day.
(Go Tree Quotes, 2021)
To end on a positive note, let’s celebrate the fact that 5.2 million trees are planted daily, which means roughly 3,611 trees a minute. The top five countries in that regard are China, India, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Mexico, and Turkey.
Conclusion
Considering their immense contribution to climate amelioration, a drop in the number of trees on Earth should be avoided at any cost. Brazil managed to reduce deforestation rates by 70% in 2007–2015, so other countries could hopefully step up their game and protect trees, too.
Sources:
