Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) by country
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...
Countries reporting
207
Highest
99.5%
Monaco
Lowest
0.0%
British Virgin Islands
Median
11.8%
Years covered
13
2013–2025
Data points
3,357
What the numbers show
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) is currently reported for 207 countries. The highest value is 99.5% in Monaco; the lowest is 0.0% in British Virgin Islands.
The median across all reporting countries is 11.8%, and the mean is 15.9%.
Over the past decade 143 countries rose and 34 fell. The largest increase was in Monaco (up 33,066.7%), and the largest decrease in Eritrea (down 100.0%).
Terrestrial and marine protected areas: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monaco | 99.5% | 2025 | up 33,066.7% | volatile |
| 2 | Palau | 98.0% | 2025 | up 32,566.7% | volatile |
| 3 | New Caledonia | 96.0% | 2025 | up 0.4% | rising |
| 4 | Saint Martin (French part) | 92.3% | 2025 | up 2,784.4% | volatile |
| 5 | French Polynesia | 87.3% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 6 | Bhutan | 51.6% | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 7 | Liechtenstein | 44.8% | 2025 | up 6.2% | rising |
| 8 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 42.1% | 2025 | up 153.6% | rising |
| 9 | Hong Kong | 42.0% | 2025 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 10 | Zambia | 41.3% | 2025 | up 8.7% | rising |
| 11 | Slovenia | 40.1% | 2025 | down 25.9% | falling |
| 12 | Germany | 40.0% | 2025 | up 3.9% | flat |
| 13 | Luxembourg | 39.1% | 2025 | up 20.3% | rising |
| 14 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 39.0% | 2025 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 15 | Armenia | 38.9% | 2025 | up 68.4% | rising |
| 16 | Poland | 38.1% | 2025 | up 30.0% | rising |
| 17 | Chile | 37.9% | 2025 | up 457.4% | volatile |
| 18 | Slovakia | 37.5% | 2025 | up 1.9% | flat |
| 19 | France | 36.7% | 2025 | up 58.2% | rising |
| 20 | Bulgaria | 35.6% | 2025 | up 8.5% | rising |
| 21 | Congo | 34.2% | 2025 | up 1.8% | flat |
| 22 | Australia | 33.5% | 2025 | up 16.7% | rising |
| 23 | Seychelles | 32.6% | 2025 | up 32,500.0% | volatile |
| 24 | Northern Mariana Islands | 32.4% | 2025 | down 2.4% | falling |
| 25 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 32.3% | 2025 | up 24.2% | rising |
| 26 | Cambodia | 31.8% | 2025 | up 54.4% | rising |
| 27 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 30.9% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 28 | New Zealand | 30.6% | 2025 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 29 | Netherlands | 29.8% | 2025 | up 66.5% | rising |
| 30 | Austria | 29.6% | 2025 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 30 | Guinea | 29.6% | 2025 | up 38.3% | rising |
| 32 | Brazil | 29.4% | 2025 | up 44.1% | rising |
| 33 | North Macedonia | 29.0% | 2025 | up 199.0% | rising |
| 34 | Benin | 28.8% | 2025 | up 25.8% | rising |
| 35 | Zimbabwe | 28.3% | 2025 | up 6.0% | flat |
| 36 | Costa Rica | 28.2% | 2025 | up 840.0% | volatile |
| 37 | Botswana | 27.6% | 2025 | down 5.2% | flat |
| 38 | Andorra | 27.3% | 2025 | up 29.4% | rising |
| 39 | Panama | 27.2% | 2025 | up 423.1% | volatile |
| 40 | Belize | 26.8% | 2025 | up 30.7% | rising |
| 41 | Colombia | 26.5% | 2025 | up 184.9% | rising |
| 42 | Gabon | 24.4% | 2025 | up 101.7% | rising |
| 42 | Namibia | 24.4% | 2025 | up 5.2% | flat |
| 44 | Romania | 24.3% | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 45 | Croatia | 24.1% | 2025 | up 1.7% | rising |
| 46 | Denmark | 23.8% | 2025 | up 16.1% | flat |
| 47 | Nepal | 23.6% | 2025 | up 0.9% | rising |
| 48 | Lesotho | 23.4% | 2025 | up 7,700.0% | volatile |
| 49 | Malawi | 23.1% | 2025 | up 36.7% | rising |
| 50 | Greenland | 22.6% | 2025 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 50 | Tajikistan | 22.6% | 2025 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 52 | Hungary | 22.3% | 2025 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 53 | Spain | 22.1% | 2025 | up 56.7% | rising |
| 53 | Togo | 22.1% | 2025 | up 1.4% | flat |
| 55 | Czechia | 21.9% | 2025 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 56 | Niger | 21.0% | 2025 | up 21.4% | rising |
| 56 | Chad | 21.0% | 2025 | up 12.9% | rising |
| 58 | Oman | 20.8% | 2025 | up 1,980.0% | volatile |
| 59 | Bahrain | 20.6% | 2025 | up 1,111.8% | volatile |
| 60 | Estonia | 20.5% | 2025 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 61 | Ecuador | 20.2% | 2025 | up 40.3% | rising |
| 62 | Mexico | 19.9% | 2025 | up 215.9% | rising |
| 63 | Mongolia | 19.8% | 2025 | up 13.8% | rising |
| 64 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 18.8% | 2025 | up 12.6% | rising |
| 65 | Belgium | 18.6% | 2025 | down 23.1% | falling |
| 66 | Lithuania | 18.4% | 2025 | up 8.9% | rising |
| 67 | Latvia | 18.1% | 2025 | up 1.7% | flat |
| 68 | Albania | 18.0% | 2025 | up 718.2% | rising |
| 68 | Mozambique | 18.0% | 2025 | up 48.8% | rising |
| 70 | Ukraine | 17.9% | 2025 | up 359.0% | volatile |
| 71 | Georgia | 17.4% | 2025 | up 171.9% | rising |
| 72 | Portugal | 17.2% | 2025 | up 129.3% | rising |
| 73 | Ethiopia | 17.0% | 2025 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 73 | Saudi Arabia | 17.0% | 2025 | down 39.9% | volatile |
| 75 | Burkina Faso | 16.8% | 2025 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 76 | Senegal | 16.6% | 2025 | up 14.5% | rising |
| 77 | Peru | 16.5% | 2025 | down 14.9% | falling |
| 78 | Montenegro | 16.3% | 2025 | up 526.9% | volatile |
| 79 | United Arab Emirates | 16.1% | 2025 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 79 | Uganda | 16.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Sweden | 15.9% | 2025 | up 21.4% | rising |
| 82 | United States | 15.8% | 2025 | down 21.4% | falling |
| 83 | South Sudan | 15.4% | 2025 | down 0.6% | falling |
| 84 | Dominican Republic | 15.3% | 2025 | up 36.6% | rising |
| 85 | Pakistan | 15.2% | 2025 | up 55.1% | rising |
| 86 | Japan | 15.1% | 2025 | up 619.0% | rising |
| 87 | Côte d'Ivoire | 14.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 87 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 14.9% | 2025 | up 18.3% | rising |
| 87 | Paraguay | 14.9% | 2025 | up 129.2% | rising |
| 90 | Central African Republic | 14.8% | 2025 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 90 | Italy | 14.8% | 2025 | up 31.0% | rising |
| 92 | China | 14.7% | 2025 | down 7.5% | falling |
| 93 | Gibraltar | 14.4% | 2025 | up 9.1% | volatile |
| 94 | Uzbekistan | 14.1% | 2025 | up 314.7% | volatile |
| 95 | Serbia | 14.0% | 2025 | up 109.0% | rising |
| 96 | Finland | 13.5% | 2025 | down 4.9% | falling |
| 97 | Thailand | 13.4% | 2025 | up 7.2% | rising |
| 98 | Guinea-Bissau | 13.2% | 2025 | up 14.8% | rising |
| 99 | South Africa | 12.9% | 2025 | up 10.3% | rising |
| 100 | Switzerland | 12.5% | 2025 | up 28.9% | falling |
| 101 | Israel | 12.2% | 2025 | up 41.9% | rising |
| 102 | Azerbaijan | 12.0% | 2025 | up 118.2% | rising |
| 103 | Kiribati | 11.9% | 2025 | up 0.8% | flat |
| 104 | Kazakhstan | 11.8% | 2025 | up 268.8% | volatile |
| 104 | Kenya | 11.8% | 2025 | up 14.6% | flat |
| 106 | Canada | 11.6% | 2025 | up 87.1% | rising |
| 106 | Egypt | 11.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Nigeria | 11.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 109 | Kuwait | 11.5% | 2025 | up 2.7% | flat |
| 109 | Republic of Moldova | 11.5% | 2025 | up 173.8% | volatile |
| 111 | Greece | 11.2% | 2025 | up 30.2% | rising |
| 112 | Cyprus | 11.1% | 2025 | up 552.9% | volatile |
| 112 | Honduras | 11.1% | 2025 | down 9.0% | flat |
| 114 | Cameroon | 11.0% | 2025 | up 3.8% | flat |
| 115 | Guatemala | 10.2% | 2025 | down 35.0% | falling |
| 116 | Nicaragua | 10.1% | 2025 | down 34.8% | falling |
| 117 | Palestine, State of | 10.0% | 2025 | up 19.0% | rising |
| 118 | Argentina | 9.7% | 2025 | up 31.1% | rising |
| 119 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9.5% | 2025 | up 533.3% | volatile |
| 120 | Belarus | 9.2% | 2025 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 121 | Rwanda | 9.1% | 2025 | up 3.4% | falling |
| 122 | American Samoa | 8.7% | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 123 | Russian Federation | 8.6% | 2025 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 123 | Suriname | 8.6% | 2025 | up 1.2% | flat |
| 125 | Malaysia | 8.4% | 2025 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 126 | Bahamas | 8.3% | 2025 | up 591.7% | volatile |
| 127 | Malta | 8.0% | 2025 | up 1,500.0% | volatile |
| 128 | Ghana | 7.9% | 2025 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 129 | Angola | 7.7% | 2025 | up 54.0% | rising |
| 130 | Burundi | 7.6% | 2025 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 131 | Brunei Darussalam | 7.5% | 2025 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 131 | Mali | 7.5% | 2025 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 133 | Iran | 7.0% | 2025 | up 7.7% | rising |
| 134 | Cuba | 6.9% | 2025 | up 40.8% | rising |
| 135 | Kyrgyzstan | 6.8% | 2025 | up 4.6% | flat |
| 136 | Bangladesh | 5.9% | 2025 | up 20.4% | rising |
| 136 | Republic of Korea | 5.9% | 2025 | up 126.9% | rising |
| 138 | Qatar | 5.8% | 2025 | up 625.0% | volatile |
| 139 | Türkiye | 5.7% | 2025 | up 2,750.0% | volatile |
| 140 | Jordan | 5.4% | 2025 | up 217.6% | rising |
| 140 | Norway | 5.4% | 2025 | up 12.5% | volatile |
| 142 | Indonesia | 5.2% | 2025 | up 2.0% | flat |
| 142 | Tunisia | 5.2% | 2025 | up 40.5% | rising |
| 144 | Guyana | 5.1% | 2025 | down 3.8% | flat |
| 144 | Madagascar | 5.1% | 2025 | up 168.4% | rising |
| 144 | Sierra Leone | 5.1% | 2025 | up 54.5% | rising |
| 147 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 4.8% | 2025 | up 1,500.0% | volatile |
| 148 | Lebanon | 4.7% | 2025 | up 422.2% | volatile |
| 148 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 4.7% | 2025 | down 6.0% | falling |
| 148 | Timor-Leste | 4.7% | 2025 | up 42.4% | rising |
| 151 | Isle of Man | 4.6% | 2025 | up 1,433.3% | rising |
| 152 | India | 4.5% | 2025 | up 28.6% | rising |
| 153 | Algeria | 4.4% | 2025 | down 38.0% | falling |
| 154 | Turkmenistan | 4.3% | 2025 | up 34.4% | rising |
| 155 | Eswatini | 4.2% | 2025 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 156 | Myanmar | 4.1% | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 157 | Ireland | 4.0% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 158 | Sri Lanka | 3.7% | 2025 | up 8.8% | rising |
| 159 | Afghanistan | 3.6% | 2025 | up 800.0% | volatile |
| 159 | Philippines | 3.6% | 2025 | up 16.1% | rising |
| 161 | Sudan | 3.3% | 2025 | up 73.7% | rising |
| 162 | Haiti | 3.0% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 163 | Gambia | 2.9% | 2025 | up 107.1% | rising |
| 163 | Iceland | 2.9% | 2025 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 163 | Viet Nam | 2.9% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 166 | Uruguay | 2.4% | 2025 | up 41.2% | rising |
| 167 | Puerto Rico | 2.3% | 2025 | up 15.0% | rising |
| 168 | Singapore | 2.1% | 2025 | down 16.0% | falling |
| 168 | El Salvador | 2.1% | 2025 | down 4.5% | flat |
| 170 | Trinidad and Tobago | 2.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Equatorial Guinea | 1.8% | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 172 | Jamaica | 1.6% | 2025 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 173 | Iraq | 1.5% | 2025 | up 66.7% | rising |
| 174 | Morocco | 1.4% | 2025 | down 92.4% | volatile |
| 175 | North Korea | 1.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 176 | Djibouti | 1.2% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 176 | Liberia | 1.2% | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 178 | Fiji | 1.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 178 | Saint Lucia | 1.0% | 2025 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 178 | Mauritania | 1.0% | 2025 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 181 | United States Virgin Islands | 0.9% | 2025 | down 10.0% | rising |
| 182 | Antigua and Barbuda | 0.8% | 2025 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 183 | Comoros | 0.7% | 2025 | up 600.0% | volatile |
| 183 | Papua New Guinea | 0.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 183 | Syria | 0.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 183 | Yemen | 0.7% | 2025 | up 16.7% | rising |
| 187 | Aruba | 0.6% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 187 | Dominica | 0.6% | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 189 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 0.5% | 2025 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 189 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 0.5% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 191 | Curacao | 0.3% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 191 | Marshall Islands | 0.3% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 191 | Samoa | 0.3% | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 194 | Cape Verde | 0.2% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 194 | Grenada | 0.2% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 194 | Libya | 0.2% | 2025 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 194 | Solomon Islands | 0.2% | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 194 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0.2% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 199 | Barbados | 0.1% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 199 | Cayman Islands | 0.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 199 | Maldives | 0.1% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 199 | Tonga | 0.1% | 2025 | down 93.3% | volatile |
| 199 | Vanuatu | 0.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 204 | Eritrea | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 204 | Guam | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 204 | Somalia | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 204 | 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.
- Central Europe and the Baltics 28.5%
- European Union 21.1%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 24.2%
- Euro area 20.6%
- Latin America & Caribbean 23.4%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 22.6%
- High income 22.2%
- East Asia & Pacific 22.0%
- Late-demographic dividend 21.7%
- OECD members 21.1%
- Post-demographic dividend 20.2%
- World 17.0%
- IBRD only 14.9%
- Africa Eastern and Southern 14.5%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 14.0%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) 14.0%
- Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 13.9%
- North America 13.7%
- Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) 13.3%
- Europe & Central Asia 13.2%
- IDA & IBRD total 13.1%
- Africa Western and Central 13.0%
- Upper middle income 12.8%
- Middle income 12.7%
- Pre-demographic dividend 12.6%
- Lower middle income 12.4%
- Low & middle income 12.3%
- Europe & Central Asia (excluding high income) 11.4%
- Least developed countries 11.2%
- Low income 10.3%
- Early-demographic dividend 10.0%
- Europe & Central Asia (IDA & IBRD countries) 9.8%
- IDA only 9.1%
- IDA total 9.0%
- Other small states 8.9%
- East Asia & Pacific (IDA & IBRD countries) 8.6%
- IDA blend 8.3%
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 7.8%
- Small states 7.5%
- East Asia & Pacific (excluding high income) 7.3%
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 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. Sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.