A country with abundant forests is not necessarily a country with abundant renewable energy
Forests account for 68.40% of Japan’s land area, ranking it 19th among 214 countries and regions when ordered from the highest share. This is more than twice the global figure of 31.14%.
The top three are Suriname (94.45%), the Federated States of Micronesia (92.16%), and Gabon (91.18%). At the bottom are Qatar, Nauru, and Monaco, all at 0.0%. With more than two-thirds of its land covered by forest, Japan is, by global standards, a remarkably green country.
However, when it comes to the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption, Japan ranks 154th out of 212 countries and regions, at 8.80%. This is less than half the global figure of 19.74%.
The top three are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (96.3%), Somalia (95.4%), and Liberia (92.8%). It is important to note that many countries with high figures for this indicator depend on traditional biomass such as firewood and charcoal. A high share of renewable energy does not necessarily mean that the energy transition is well advanced.
The reason Japan’s abundance of forests is not linked to a high renewable energy share is that its forests exist as land cover, not as fuel. Even when they are both described as “green,” they have different meanings in statistical terms.
Japan ranks 176th out of 203 countries in per-capita CO2 emissions
Japan’s per-capita CO2 emissions are 7.84 tons, ranking it 176th out of 203 countries and regions when ordered from the lowest. This is 1.7 times the global figure of 4.69 tons.
On the lower end are Nauru, Tuvalu, and Guam, all at 0.0 tons. On the higher end are Palau (82.84 tons), Qatar (47.33 tons), and Bahrain (23.90 tons).
The countries near the top are oil-producing nations and island regions with extremely small populations, which form the denominator in the statistics. Japan’s figure of 7.84 tons is above the global figure, but there is a gap of three to ten times between Japan and the top group.
Energy use also ranks 145th out of 179 countries
Japan’s per-capita energy use is 3,005.9kg (oil equivalent), ranking it 145th out of 179 countries and regions when ordered from the lowest. This is 1.6 times the global figure of 1,866.2kg.
On the lower end are Lesotho (9.73kg), Timor-Leste (60.7kg), and Guinea-Bissau (65.47kg). On the higher end are Qatar (16,343kg), Iceland (15,997kg), and Trinidad and Tobago (10,590kg).
Japan’s rankings for CO2 emissions and energy use are nearly the same because the two are closely linked. To reduce emissions without changing the amount of energy used, the only option is to change the composition of the energy supply. Yet the share of renewable energy indicating that composition remains at 154th place.
Electricity access is 100%
The share of Japan’s population with access to electricity is 100%. The global figure is 91.60%, meaning that just over 8% of people still live without electricity. At the bottom are South Sudan (5.4%), Burundi (11.6%), and Chad (12.0%); countries where nearly 90% of the population cannot access electricity still exist today.
Because many countries and regions have achieved 100%, the ranking itself has little significance for this indicator. It is better understood as an indicator showing that the world still faces the challenge of bringing electricity to people who do not yet have access.
What becomes visible when the 5 indicators are viewed together
| Indicator | Japan’s figure | Rank (denominator) | Global figure |
| Forest area as a share of land area | 68.40% | 19th (214) | 31.14% |
| Access to electricity | 100% | — (many at 100%) | 91.60% |
| Per-capita energy use | 3,005.9kg | 145th (179) | 1,866.2kg |
| Renewable energy share | 8.80% | 154th (212) | 19.74% |
| Per-capita CO2 emissions | 7.84t | 176th (203) | 4.69t |
Japan’s land is among the greenest in the world, and access to electricity has been achieved nationwide. However, both the amount of energy used and the amount emitted exceed the global averages, while the share of renewable energy that could change the energy mix ranks near the bottom.
These 4 points are not separate issues. In an economy that uses large amounts of energy, relying on non-renewable sources for more than 9割 of its supply will push per-capita emissions above the global figure. Forest area does not enter into this equation at all.
In international comparisons of environmental conditions, indicators showing the extent of land and the richness of nature are often discussed in the same context as indicators showing how energy is used. In numerical terms, however, these 2 are not connected.
Sources
- Forest area (% of land area) (World Bank World Development Indicators AG.LND.FRST.ZS)
- Access to electricity (% of population) (same source, EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS)
- Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) (same source, EG.USE.PCAP.KG.OE)
- Renewable energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption) (same source, EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS)
- CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) (same source, EN.ATM.CO2E.PC)
Figures are based on the latest year available for each indicator. CO2 emissions and energy use: 2024; access to electricity: 2023; forest area as a share of land area: 2023; renewable energy share: 2022.