United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland vs World: Terrestrial and marine protected areas
Terrestrial and marine protected areas over time
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- World
How they compare
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 42.1% against 17.0% in World, a difference of 25.1%.
That makes United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's figure about 2.5 times World's.
Across all 13 years both countries report, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been ahead every year.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 8th and World ranks 12th of 213 countries.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | World | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 22.5% | 12.9% | 9.6% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2020s | 40.7% | 15.3% | 25.4% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher terrestrial and marine protected areas, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or World?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 42.1% against 17.0% in World as of 2025.
- What is the difference in terrestrial and marine protected areas between United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and World?
- 25.1%, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and World?
- 13 years are reported by both, from 2013 to 2025.
- How do United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and World rank globally for terrestrial and marine protected areas?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 8th and World ranks 12th 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.