Primary forest refers to the area of a forest that has not been disturbed by human activity. When looking at the total amount of primary tropical forest found across the globe, over 54 percent of it can be found in the Amazon. This is over three times the amount found in the Congo, which is the world's second largest rainforest.
Largest rainforests in the world as a share of total primary tropical forest 2020
Characteristic
Share of total primary tropical forest area
Amazon (South America)
54%
Congo (Central Africa)
17%
Australasia (Australia & New Guinea)
7%
Sundaland (Southeast Asia)
5%
Indo-Burma (Southeast Asia)
4%
Mesoamerica (Mexico & Central America)
2%
Wallacea (Indonesia)
2%
West Africa
1%
Atlantic forest (South America)
1%
Choco (South America)
1%
Other tropical forests
6%
• Amazon (South America) 54%
• Congo (Central Africa) 17%
• Australasia (Australia & New Guinea) 7%
• Sundaland (Southeast Asia) 5%
• Indo-Burma (Southeast Asia) 4%
• Mesoamerica (Mexico & Central America) 2%
• Wallacea (Indonesia) 2%
• West Africa 1%
• Atlantic forest (South America) 1%
• Choco (South America) 1%
• Other tropical forests 6%
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Mongabay. (November 23, 2020). Largest rainforests in the world as a share of total primary tropical forest 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1347045/share-of-rainforests/
Mongabay. "Largest rainforests in the world as a share of total primary tropical forest 2020." Chart. November 23, 2020. Statista. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1347045/share-of-rainforests/
Mongabay. (2020). Largest rainforests in the world as a share of total primary tropical forest 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 27, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1347045/share-of-rainforests/
Mongabay. "Largest Rainforests in The World as a Share of Total Primary Tropical Forest 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Nov 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1347045/share-of-rainforests/
Mongabay, Largest rainforests in the world as a share of total primary tropical forest 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1347045/share-of-rainforests/ (last visited April 27, 2025)
Largest rainforests in the world as a share of total primary tropical forest 2020 [Graph], Mongabay, November 23, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1347045/share-of-rainforests/
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