Bulgaria vs European Union: Terrestrial protected areas

Bulgaria
44.3%
in 2025
European Union
26.6%
in 2025
Bulgaria rank
6th
European Union rank
3rd

Terrestrial protected areas over time

  • Bulgaria
  • European Union
01020304050201320192025

How they compare

Bulgaria currently reports 44.3% against 26.6% in European Union, a difference of 17.7%.

That makes Bulgaria's figure about 1.7 times European Union's.

Across all 13 years both countries report, Bulgaria has been ahead every year.

Bulgaria ranks 6th and European Union ranks 3rd of 213 countries.

Bulgaria has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Bulgaria European Union Difference Ahead
2010s 38.7% 25.6% 13.2% Bulgaria
2020s 42.1% 26.3% 15.8% Bulgaria

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher terrestrial protected areas, Bulgaria or European Union?
Bulgaria, at 44.3% against 26.6% in European Union as of 2025.
What is the difference in terrestrial protected areas between Bulgaria and European Union?
17.7%, with Bulgaria ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Bulgaria and European Union?
13 years are reported by both, from 2013 to 2025.
How do Bulgaria and European Union rank globally for terrestrial protected areas?
Bulgaria ranks 6th and European Union ranks 3rd 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 protected areas (% of total land area). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Bulgaria vs European Union: Terrestrial protected areas. Statizoid, drawing on 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. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/compare/terrestrial-protected-areas-percent-of-total-land-area/bulgaria/european-union/

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About this data

Indicator
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area)
Unit
% of total land area
Source
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
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
260 places, 3,357 data points, 2013–2025
Last refreshed

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 areas, unclassified areas, littoral (intertidal) areas, and sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.