Namibia vs Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Terrestrial protected areas

Namibia
39.9%
in 2025
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
17.3%
in 2025
Namibia rank
13th
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank
12th

Terrestrial protected areas over time

  • Namibia
  • Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
010203040201320192025

How they compare

Namibia currently reports 39.9% against 17.3% in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), a difference of 22.6%.

That makes Namibia's figure about 2.3 times Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)'s.

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

Namibia ranks 13th and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 12th of 213 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Namibia Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) Difference Ahead
2010s 38.8% 16.2% 22.5% Namibia
2020s 38.9% 16.7% 22.2% Namibia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher terrestrial protected areas, Namibia or Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
Namibia, at 39.9% against 17.3% in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) as of 2025.
What is the difference in terrestrial protected areas between Namibia and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
22.6%, with Namibia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Namibia and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
13 years are reported by both, from 2013 to 2025.
How do Namibia and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) rank globally for terrestrial protected areas?
Namibia ranks 13th and Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 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 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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Namibia vs Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): 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/namibia/sub-saharan-africa-ida-and-ibrd-countries/

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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.