Marine protected areas (% of territorial waters) by country
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.
Countries reporting
156
Highest
100.0%
Monaco
Lowest
0.0%
British Virgin Islands
Median
3.2%
Years covered
13
2013–2025
Data points
2,834
What the numbers show
Marine protected areas (% of territorial waters) is currently reported for 156 countries. The highest value is 100.0% in Monaco; the lowest is 0.0% in British Virgin Islands.
The median across all reporting countries is 3.2%, and the mean is 11.5%.
Over the past decade 95 countries rose and 23 fell. The largest increase was in Monaco (up 99,900.0%), and the largest decrease in Brunei Darussalam (down 100.0%).
Marine protected areas: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monaco | 100.0% | 2025 | up 99,900.0% | volatile |
| 2 | Palau | 98.0% | 2025 | up 32,566.7% | volatile |
| 3 | Saint Martin (French part) | 97.0% | 2025 | up 3,364.3% | volatile |
| 4 | New Caledonia | 96.5% | 2025 | up 0.3% | rising |
| 5 | French Polynesia | 87.4% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 6 | Kazakhstan | 52.5% | 2025 | up 5,150.0% | volatile |
| 7 | France | 49.2% | 2025 | up 156.2% | rising |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 46.8% | 2025 | up 274.4% | rising |
| 9 | Australia | 45.4% | 2025 | up 5.1% | rising |
| 10 | Germany | 45.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 11 | Chile | 41.2% | 2025 | up 836.4% | volatile |
| 12 | Colombia | 41.1% | 2025 | up 1,857.1% | volatile |
| 13 | Belgium | 38.3% | 2025 | up 4.6% | rising |
| 14 | Netherlands | 33.5% | 2025 | up 55.1% | rising |
| 15 | Seychelles | 32.6% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 16 | Northern Mariana Islands | 32.4% | 2025 | down 2.4% | falling |
| 17 | New Zealand | 30.4% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Costa Rica | 28.4% | 2025 | up 3,450.0% | volatile |
| 19 | Denmark | 27.1% | 2025 | up 48.9% | rising |
| 20 | Gabon | 26.8% | 2025 | up 2,580.0% | volatile |
| 21 | Brazil | 26.6% | 2025 | up 1,562.5% | volatile |
| 22 | Panama | 26.3% | 2025 | up 1,447.1% | volatile |
| 23 | Poland | 24.0% | 2025 | up 6.2% | flat |
| 24 | Lithuania | 23.2% | 2025 | up 42.3% | rising |
| 25 | Mexico | 22.6% | 2025 | up 1,089.5% | rising |
| 26 | Ukraine | 21.6% | 2025 | up 535.3% | volatile |
| 27 | Romania | 21.5% | 2025 | up 156.0% | rising |
| 28 | Bahrain | 21.4% | 2025 | up 1,683.3% | volatile |
| 29 | Belize | 20.4% | 2025 | up 102.0% | rising |
| 30 | Ecuador | 19.3% | 2025 | up 47.3% | rising |
| 31 | Estonia | 19.2% | 2025 | up 3.2% | flat |
| 32 | Spain | 19.0% | 2025 | up 167.6% | rising |
| 32 | United States | 19.0% | 2025 | down 31.4% | falling |
| 34 | Sudan | 17.0% | 2025 | — | rising |
| 35 | Portugal | 16.9% | 2025 | up 152.2% | rising |
| 36 | Latvia | 16.4% | 2025 | down 3.0% | flat |
| 37 | Oman | 16.2% | 2025 | up 16,100.0% | volatile |
| 38 | Sweden | 16.1% | 2025 | up 101.2% | rising |
| 39 | South Africa | 15.4% | 2025 | up 27.3% | rising |
| 40 | Gibraltar | 14.2% | 2025 | up 10.9% | volatile |
| 41 | Congo | 14.1% | 2025 | up 340.6% | volatile |
| 42 | Japan | 13.8% | 2025 | up 2,660.0% | volatile |
| 43 | Dominican Republic | 13.3% | 2025 | up 46.2% | rising |
| 44 | United Arab Emirates | 12.0% | 2025 | down 3.2% | rising |
| 44 | Argentina | 12.0% | 2025 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 46 | Kiribati | 11.9% | 2025 | up 0.8% | flat |
| 47 | Finland | 11.8% | 2025 | up 7.3% | rising |
| 48 | Cameroon | 11.4% | 2025 | up 192.3% | rising |
| 49 | Italy | 11.0% | 2025 | up 96.4% | rising |
| 50 | Isle of Man | 10.8% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 51 | Croatia | 9.3% | 2025 | up 2.2% | rising |
| 52 | Canada | 9.2% | 2025 | up 922.2% | volatile |
| 53 | Guinea-Bissau | 9.1% | 2025 | down 9.0% | flat |
| 54 | American Samoa | 8.7% | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 55 | Bangladesh | 8.6% | 2025 | up 59.3% | rising |
| 55 | Cyprus | 8.6% | 2025 | up 8,500.0% | volatile |
| 57 | Bulgaria | 8.2% | 2025 | up 1.2% | rising |
| 58 | Peru | 7.9% | 2025 | up 1,216.7% | volatile |
| 59 | Malta | 7.8% | 2025 | up 2,500.0% | volatile |
| 60 | Bahamas | 7.7% | 2025 | up 1,183.3% | volatile |
| 61 | Montenegro | 5.3% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 62 | Egypt | 5.1% | 2025 | up 2.0% | flat |
| 62 | Sint Maarten | 5.1% | 2025 | down 3.8% | falling |
| 64 | Thailand | 5.0% | 2025 | up 163.2% | rising |
| 65 | Honduras | 4.9% | 2025 | up 19.5% | rising |
| 66 | China (People’s Republic of) | 4.8% | 2025 | up 29.7% | rising |
| 66 | Malaysia | 4.8% | 2025 | up 242.9% | volatile |
| 68 | Greece | 4.7% | 2025 | up 213.3% | rising |
| 69 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 4.5% | 2025 | up 2,150.0% | volatile |
| 70 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 4.4% | 2025 | up 25.7% | rising |
| 71 | Cuba | 4.2% | 2025 | up 61.5% | rising |
| 71 | Greenland | 4.2% | 2025 | down 6.7% | flat |
| 71 | Turkmenistan | 4.2% | 2025 | up 40.0% | rising |
| 74 | Mauritania | 3.7% | 2025 | down 11.9% | falling |
| 75 | Nicaragua | 3.6% | 2025 | up 24.1% | rising |
| 76 | Saudi Arabia | 3.5% | 2025 | up 118.8% | rising |
| 77 | Albania | 3.4% | 2025 | up 240.0% | rising |
| 78 | Kuwait | 3.2% | 2025 | up 3,100.0% | volatile |
| 79 | Senegal | 3.1% | 2025 | up 181.8% | rising |
| 80 | Indonesia | 3.0% | 2025 | up 3.4% | flat |
| 81 | Slovenia | 2.9% | 2025 | down 97.1% | volatile |
| 82 | Jordan | 2.8% | 2025 | down 92.1% | volatile |
| 83 | Ireland | 2.4% | 2025 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 84 | Korea | 2.3% | 2025 | up 130.0% | rising |
| 84 | Qatar | 2.3% | 2025 | up 1,050.0% | volatile |
| 84 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 2.3% | 2025 | down 23.3% | falling |
| 87 | Russia | 2.2% | 2025 | down 26.7% | falling |
| 88 | Mozambique | 2.1% | 2025 | down 4.5% | rising |
| 88 | Puerto Rico | 2.1% | 2025 | up 23.5% | rising |
| 90 | Haiti | 1.8% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 91 | Namibia | 1.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 91 | Sierra Leone | 1.7% | 2025 | up 240.0% | volatile |
| 91 | Türkiye | 1.7% | 2025 | up 1,600.0% | volatile |
| 94 | Philippines | 1.6% | 2025 | up 45.5% | rising |
| 95 | Cambodia | 1.5% | 2025 | up 650.0% | volatile |
| 95 | Suriname | 1.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 95 | Uruguay | 1.5% | 2025 | up 400.0% | rising |
| 98 | Madagascar | 1.4% | 2025 | up 250.0% | rising |
| 99 | Pakistan | 1.2% | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 100 | Tunisia | 1.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 101 | Azerbaijan | 1.0% | 2025 | up 150.0% | rising |
| 101 | Norway | 1.0% | 2025 | up 100.0% | volatile |
| 103 | Fiji | 0.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 103 | Guatemala | 0.9% | 2025 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 103 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 0.9% | 2025 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 106 | Benin | 0.8% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 106 | Georgia | 0.8% | 2025 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 106 | El Salvador | 0.8% | 2025 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 106 | United States Virgin Islands | 0.8% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 110 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0.7% | 2025 | up 250.0% | volatile |
| 110 | Gambia | 0.7% | 2025 | up 600.0% | volatile |
| 110 | Jamaica | 0.7% | 2025 | down 12.5% | falling |
| 110 | Kenya | 0.7% | 2025 | up 16.7% | flat |
| 110 | Togo | 0.7% | 2025 | up 250.0% | volatile |
| 110 | Timor-Leste | 0.7% | 2025 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 116 | Guinea | 0.6% | 2025 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 116 | Israel | 0.6% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 116 | Libya | 0.6% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 116 | Myanmar | 0.6% | 2025 | up 500.0% | volatile |
| 120 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 0.5% | 2025 | up 150.0% | rising |
| 120 | Iceland | 0.5% | 2025 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 120 | Viet Nam | 0.5% | 2025 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 123 | Aruba | 0.4% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 123 | Comoros | 0.4% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 123 | Yemen | 0.4% | 2025 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 126 | Equatorial Guinea | 0.3% | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 126 | India | 0.3% | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 126 | Saint Lucia | 0.3% | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 126 | Sri Lanka | 0.3% | 2025 | up 200.0% | rising |
| 126 | Morocco | 0.3% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 126 | Marshall Islands | 0.3% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 132 | Côte d'Ivoire | 0.2% | 2025 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 132 | Djibouti | 0.2% | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 132 | Lebanon | 0.2% | 2025 | — | rising |
| 132 | Syrian Arab Republic | 0.2% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 0.2% | 2025 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 132 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0.2% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 132 | Samoa | 0.2% | 2025 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 139 | Cape Verde | 0.1% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 139 | Cayman Islands | 0.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 139 | Dominica | 0.1% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 139 | Algeria | 0.1% | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 139 | Grenada | 0.1% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 139 | Liberia | 0.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 139 | Maldives | 0.1% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 139 | Papua New Guinea | 0.1% | 2025 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 139 | Solomon Islands | 0.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 139 | Tonga | 0.1% | 2025 | down 93.3% | volatile |
| 139 | Trinidad and Tobago | 0.1% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 150 | Brunei Darussalam | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | falling |
| 150 | Ghana | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | falling |
| 150 | Guam | 0.0% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 150 | Guyana | 0.0% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 150 | Iraq | 0.0% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 150 | Singapore | 0.0% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 150 | British Virgin Islands | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Late-demographic dividend 28.0%
- High income 26.8%
- OECD members 24.4%
- East Asia & Pacific 24.1%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 23.8%
- Post-demographic dividend 23.0%
- Latin America & Caribbean 22.2%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 19.3%
- Central Europe and the Baltics 15.7%
- North America 14.6%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 14.3%
- IBRD only 13.5%
About this data
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.