Marine protected areas in Japan
Japan: Marine protected areas was 13.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Marine protected areas in Japan, 2013–2025
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. Measured in % of territorial waters.
Analysis
Japan recorded 13.8% for marine protected areas in 2025.
The figure is up 2,660.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, marine protected areas in Japan peaked at 13.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 2013.
That places Japan 42nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Marine protected areas in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of territorial waters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0.5% | — |
| 2014 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 8.2% | +1540.0% |
| 2017 | 8.2% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 8.2% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 13.9% | +69.5% |
| 2022 | 13.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 13.9% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 13.8% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 13.8% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.9% | 0.5% | 8.2% | 7 |
| 2020s | 12.9% | 8.2% | 13.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 39 South Africa 15.4% compare
- 40 Gibraltar 14.2% compare
- 41 Congo 14.1% compare
- 43 Dominican Republic 13.3% compare
- 44 Argentina 12.0% compare
- 44 United Arab Emirates 12.0% compare
More climate change data for Japan
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 12,181 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 3,633 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 13.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 305.27 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 9,462 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,401 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 7,061 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 9.06 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 252.18 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is marine protected areas in Japan?
- Marine protected areas in Japan was 13.8% in 2025, according to 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.
- What is the highest marine protected areas recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 13.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest marine protected areas recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 2013.
- How does Japan rank for marine protected areas?
- Japan ranks 42nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is marine protected areas rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2,660.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures 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 part of Marine protected areas (% of territorial waters). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.