Marine protected areas in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Marine protected areas was 4.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Marine protected areas in Least developed countries, 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
The most recent figure for marine protected areas in Least developed countries is 4.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, marine protected areas in Least developed countries peaked at 4.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2019.
Least developed countries ranks 28th of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Marine protected areas in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of territorial waters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 4.1% | — |
| 2014 | 4.2% | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 4.2% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 4.4% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 4.4% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | -8.1% |
| 2020 | 4.1% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 4.1% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 4.2% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More climate change data for Least developed countries
- Population growth 2.3% (2025)
- Population, total 1.21 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.6% (2025)
- Urban population 444.81 million (2025)
- Urban population 36.6% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 13.7% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 198.48 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 4.4% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 15.2% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 11.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is marine protected areas in Least developed countries?
- Marine protected areas in Least developed countries was 4.2% 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 Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 4.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest marine protected areas recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2019.
- How does Least developed countries rank for marine protected areas?
- Least developed countries ranks 28th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is marine protected areas rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.
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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.