Forests covered 9.29 million hectares in Poland at the end of 2025, accounting for 29.6% of the country’s area. While forest land expanded slightly year on year, total timber harvest declined by 3.5% to 39.8 million cubic metres.
At the end of 2025, forests in Poland covered 9,290.8 thousand ha — 29.6% of the country’s area — and were 1.8 thousand ha larger than a year earlier. At the same time, total timber harvest declined by 3.5% to 39,764.6 thousand m³, with large-sized wood down 3.7% to 37,992.1 thousand m³.
Statistics Poland (GUS) has published data on the state of forestry in 2025. As of 31 December 2025, forest land covered 9,489.5 thousand ha, of which forests accounted for 9,290.8 thousand ha. Measured against the standard used for international comparisons, which includes land associated with forest management, the share of forest land in the country’s land area reached 31.0%. Forest area has been rising steadily — in 2025 it grew by 1.8 thousand ha. Forest area per capita stood at 0.249 ha.
Forest ownership structure
Public ownership predominates in the structure of forests, accounting for 80.9% of forest area. The State Forests National Forest Holding managed 77.1% of total forest area, national parks covered 2.0%, while municipal ownership and other public forests accounted for 0.9% each. Private forests occupied 19.1% of the area. Protective forests, which serve non-productive functions, covered 3,930.6 thousand ha, or 42.3% of the country’s forest area.
Forest ownership structure (2025)
Share of total forest area (%). As of 31 December 2025.
| Item (thousand ha) | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Forests, total | 9,289.0 | 9,290.8 |
| public | 7,513.5 | 7,520.7 |
| of which managed by State Forests | 7,152.4 | 7,159.8 |
| private | 1,775.6 | 1,770.2 |
Timber harvest
In 2025, 39,764.6 thousand m³ of wood was harvested, including 37,992.1 thousand m³ of large-sized wood and 1,772.4 thousand m³ of small-sized wood. Of the total large-sized wood volume, 95.5% was cut in forests managed by the State Forests and 3.3% in private forests. Compared with 2024, total timber harvest fell by 3.5%, large-sized wood by 3.7% and small-sized wood by 0.2%. Large-sized wood harvest per hectare of forest stood at 4.09 m³ (against 4.25 m³ a year earlier), and 1.02 m³ per capita.
Timber harvest — 2024 vs 2025
In thousand m³.
| Item (thousand m³) | 2024 | 2025 | Change y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL | 41,222.9 | 39,764.6 | −3.5% |
| Large-sized wood | 39,447.4 | 37,992.1 | −3.7% |
| Small-sized wood | 1,775.6 | 1,772.4 | −0.2% |
Non-wood use of forests
Under non-wood use of forests, in 2025 the procurement of forest fruits reached 0.9 thousand t (47.8% less than in 2024) and forest mushrooms 2.6 thousand t (35.0% less). The procurement of game animals amounted to 10.8 thousand t and was 16.0% higher than a year earlier, with deer accounting for 53.0% of that volume.
Procurement of forest fruits, mushrooms and game animals — 2024 vs 2025
In tonnes.
| Item (t) | 2024 | 2025 | Change y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest fruits | 1,751 | 914 | −47.8% |
| Forest mushrooms | 4,001 | 2,601 | −35.0% |
| Game animals | 9,288 | 10,772 | +16.0% |
Poland’s forest area continues to grow — in 2025 it expanded by 1.8 thousand ha, while forest cover held at 29.6%. The ownership structure remains dominated by public forests (80.9%), including those managed by the State Forests (77.1%).
On the economic side, the data show a decline in timber harvest of 3.5% and markedly lower procurement of forest fruits and mushrooms. Procurement of game animals moved in the opposite direction, rising by 16.0%.
Key findings
- Forests covered 9,290.8 thousand ha (29.6% of the country’s area) and were 1.8 thousand ha larger than in 2024.
- Public forests accounted for 80.9% of the area, including 77.1% managed by the State Forests; private forests made up 19.1%.
- Protective forests covered 42.3% of forest area (3,930.6 thousand ha).
- Total timber harvest fell by 3.5% to 39,764.6 thousand m³, and large-sized wood by 3.7% to 37,992.1 thousand m³.
- Procurement of forest fruits dropped by 47.8% and mushrooms by 35.0%, while procurement of game animals rose by 16.0%.
Source: Statistics Poland (GUS). Own elaboration based on Statistics Poland data. Relative figures were calculated from absolute data expressed with greater precision than shown; due to rounding, component sums may differ slightly from the stated totals.
