Spain vs United Kingdom: Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area)
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) over time
- Spain
- United Kingdom
How they compare
United Kingdom currently reports 28.4% against 28.1% in Spain, a difference of 0.3%.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 13 shared years of data; in 2013 it was Spain ahead.
Spain ranks 47th and United Kingdom ranks 45th of 213 countries.
United Kingdom has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Spain | United Kingdom | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 28.3% | 28.5% | 0.3% | United Kingdom |
| 2020s | 28.1% | 28.2% | 0.0% | United Kingdom |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher terrestrial protected areas, Spain or United Kingdom?
- United Kingdom, at 28.4% against 28.1% in Spain as of 2025.
- What is the difference in terrestrial protected areas between Spain and United Kingdom?
- 0.3%, with United Kingdom ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Spain and United Kingdom?
- 13 years are reported by both, from 2013 to 2025.
- How do Spain and United Kingdom rank globally for terrestrial protected areas?
- Spain ranks 47th and United Kingdom ranks 45th 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.
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 areas, unclassified areas, littoral (intertidal) areas, and sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.