Marine protected areas in Panama

Panama: Marine protected areas was 26.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
26.3%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
22nd
of 174 countries
All-time high
26.8%
in 2021
All-time low
1.7%
in 2013
Years of data
13
2013–2025

Marine protected areas in Panama, 2013–2025

01020302013201920252013: 1.7 % of territorial waters2014: 1.7 % of territorial waters2015: 1.7 % of territorial waters2016: 1.7 % of territorial waters2017: 1.7 % of territorial waters2018: 1.7 % of territorial waters2019: 1.7 % of territorial waters2020: 11.6 % of territorial waters2021: 26.8 % of territorial waters2022: 26.8 % of territorial waters2023: 26.8 % of territorial waters2024: 26.3 % of territorial waters2025: 26.3 % of territorial waters

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

Panama recorded 26.3% for marine protected areas in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1,447.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, marine protected areas in Panama peaked at 26.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.7%, in 2013.

That places Panama 22nd 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 Panama, year by year

Annual values for Marine protected areas (% of territorial waters) in Panama, 2013 to 2025.
Year % of territorial waters Change
2013 1.7%
2014 1.7% +0.0%
2015 1.7% +0.0%
2016 1.7% +0.0%
2017 1.7% +0.0%
2018 1.7% +0.0%
2019 1.7% +0.0%
2020 11.6% +582.4%
2021 26.8% +131.0%
2022 26.8% +0.0%
2023 26.8% +0.0%
2024 26.3% -1.9%
2025 26.3% +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 1.7% 1.7% 1.7% 7
2020s 24.1% 11.6% 26.8% 6

Countries ranked near Panama

  1. 19 Denmark 27.1% compare
  2. 20 Gabon 26.8% compare
  3. 21 Brazil 26.6% compare
  4. 23 Poland 24.0% compare
  5. 24 Lithuania 23.2% compare
  6. 25 Mexico 22.6% compare

See the full ranking of 221 places →

More climate change data for Panama

All data for Panama →

Frequently asked questions

What is marine protected areas in Panama?
Marine protected areas in Panama was 26.3% 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 Panama?
The highest recorded value was 26.8% in 2021.
What is the lowest marine protected areas recorded in Panama?
The lowest recorded value was 1.7% in 2013.
How does Panama rank for marine protected areas?
Panama ranks 22nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is marine protected areas rising or falling in Panama?
Over the last ten years it is up 1,447.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Panama 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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Marine protected areas in Panama. 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 27 August 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/marine-protected-areas-percent-of-territorial-waters/panama/

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About this data

Indicator
Marine protected areas (% of territorial waters)
Unit
% of territorial waters
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
221 places, 2,834 data points, 2013–2025
Last refreshed

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.