Australia vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Terrestrial and marine protected areas
Terrestrial and marine protected areas over time
- Australia
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
How they compare
Australia currently reports 33.5% against 13.3% in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), a difference of 20.2%.
That makes Australia's figure about 2.5 times Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)'s.
Across all 13 years both countries report, Australia has been ahead every year.
Australia ranks 22nd and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 19th of 213 countries.
Australia has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Australia | Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 29.1% | 12.4% | 16.7% | Australia |
| 2020s | 32.3% | 12.9% | 19.4% | Australia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher terrestrial and marine protected areas, Australia or Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- Australia, at 33.5% against 13.3% in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) as of 2025.
- What is the difference in terrestrial and marine protected areas between Australia and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- 20.2%, with Australia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
- 13 years are reported by both, from 2013 to 2025.
- How do Australia and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank globally for terrestrial and marine protected areas?
- Australia ranks 22nd and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 19th of 213 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM), UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring, published as Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Terrestrial protected areas are totally or partially protected areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities as scientific reserves with limited public access, national parks, natural monuments, nature reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes, and areas managed mainly for sustainable use. Marine protected areas are areas of intertidal or subtidal terrain--and overlying water and associated flora and fauna and historical and cultural features--that have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment. Sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.