Mapped: America’s Most Forested States
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways:
- Maine leads the nation with nearly 90% of its land covered by forests, while several western and Great Plains states have forest cover below 10%.
- Climate, geography, and land use patterns largely explain why forest coverage varies dramatically across the United States.
- Despite ongoing losses from wildfires and development, U.S. forest area has remained relatively stable over recent decades, though regional trends differ significantly.
Approximately 36% of the United States is covered by forest. But how does this coverage vary by state?
This graphic by Harris Saleem maps the percentage of land covered by forests in every U.S. state, using data from World Population Review.
While many associate dense forests with the Pacific Northwest, the highest concentrations of forest land are actually found in the Northeast and Appalachia.
Forest Cover by State
The table below shows the percentage of land covered by forests in every U.S. state.
| Rank | State | Percent Forest |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | 89% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 83% |
| 3 | West Virginia | 78% |
| 4 | Vermont | 76% |
| 5 | Alabama | 71% |
| 6 | South Carolina | 67% |
| 7 | Georgia | 67% |
| 8 | Mississippi | 65% |
| 9 | Virginia | 63% |
| 10 | New York | 63% |
| 11 | Massachusetts | 61% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 61% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 59% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 58% |
| 15 | Arkansas | 57% |
| 16 | Michigan | 56% |
| 17 | Rhode Island | 56% |
| 18 | Louisiana | 54% |
| 19 | Tennessee | 53% |
| 20 | Washington | 53% |
| 21 | Florida | 50% |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 49% |
| 23 | Kentucky | 49% |
| 24 | Oregon | 48% |
| 25 | New Jersey | 42% |
| 26 | Idaho | 41% |
| 27 | Maryland | 39% |
| 28 | Texas | 38% |
| 29 | Alaska | 37% |
| 30 | California | 37% |
| 31 | Hawaii | 36% |
| 32 | Missouri | 35% |
| 33 | Utah | 35% |
| 34 | Colorado | 34% |
| 35 | Minnesota | 34% |
| 36 | New Mexico | 32% |
| 37 | Ohio | 31% |
| 38 | Delaware | 29% |
| 39 | Oklahoma | 28% |
| 40 | Montana | 28% |
| 41 | Arizona | 26% |
| 42 | Indiana | 21% |
| 43 | Wyoming | 17% |
| 44 | Nevada | 15% |
| 45 | Illinois | 14% |
| 46 | Iowa | 8% |
| 47 | Kansas | 5% |
| 48 | South Dakota | 4% |
| 49 | Nebraska | 3% |
| 50 | North Dakota | 2% |
The most heavily forested states are concentrated in the Northeast, Appalachia, and parts of the Pacific Northwest. Maine ranks first nationally, with forests covering nearly 90% of its land area, followed by New Hampshire, West Virginia, Vermont, and Alabama.
These regions benefit from favorable rainfall, moderate temperatures, and terrain that has historically limited large-scale agricultural development. In contrast, many western desert states and Great Plains states feature much lower levels of forest cover due to drier climates and grassland ecosystems.
Meanwhile, states such as North Dakota, Nebraska, and South Dakota have some of the lowest forest coverage in the country. The data highlights just how diverse America’s landscapes are, ranging from dense woodlands to expansive prairies and deserts.
Why Some States Have More Forests Than Others
Natural factors are only part of the story. Human land use has also shaped forest distribution across the country. Much of the Midwest was historically cleared for agriculture, while urbanization has reduced forest cover around major metropolitan areas.
Meanwhile, large portions of the Southeast have remained heavily forested due to extensive timber management and private forestry operations. The Pacific Northwest similarly retains vast forest landscapes thanks to mountainous terrain and abundant precipitation.
These geographic patterns can also be seen globally, where forest density reflects differences in climate, topography, and economic development.
Has America Been Losing Forests?
The answer depends on the timeframe and location being examined. The overall forest area in the United States has remained relatively stable over the past several decades after recovering significantly from the extensive clearing that occurred during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
However, recent years have brought new challenges. Data from Global Forest Watch shows that wildfires, disease, drought, and development continue to contribute to forest loss in some regions. Western states in particular have experienced substantial tree cover losses tied to increasingly severe wildfire seasons.
At the same time, reforestation efforts and natural regrowth have helped offset some of these declines. According to forestry data covering both the U.S. and Canada, North America remains home to some of the largest and most productive forest ecosystems on Earth.
As climate change, population growth, and land-use pressures continue to evolve, maintaining healthy forests will remain a key environmental and economic priority across the United States.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
Forests are not distributed evenly around the world. Explore Which Countries Have the Largest Forests? to see how national forest resources compare across the globe and which countries account for the largest share of Earth’s wooded landscapes.