Terrestrial and marine protected areas in IBRD only
IBRD only: Terrestrial and marine protected areas was 14.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Terrestrial and marine protected areas in IBRD only, 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 total territorial area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for terrestrial and marine protected areas in IBRD only is 14.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 47.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial and marine protected areas in IBRD only peaked at 14.9% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 2015.
IBRD only ranks 11th of 45 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Terrestrial and marine protected areas in IBRD only, year by year
| Year | % of total territorial area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 10.1% | — |
| 2014 | 10.4% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 10.1% | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 11.3% | +12.5% |
| 2017 | 11.5% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 12.7% | +10.7% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 14.1% | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 14.3% | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 14.6% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 14.7% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 14.9% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 14.9% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 11.4% | 10.1% | 13.5% | 7 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 14.1% | 14.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near IBRD only
- 8 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 42.1% compare
- 9 Hong Kong, China 42.0% compare
- 10 Zambia 41.3% compare
- 11 Slovenia 40.1% compare
- 12 Germany 40.0% compare
- 13 Luxembourg 39.1% compare
- 14 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 39.0% compare
More climate change data for IBRD only
- Population growth 0.5% (2025)
- Population, total 5.01 billion (2025)
- Urban population growth 1.1% (2025)
- Urban population 2.94 billion (2025)
- Urban population 58.6% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 25.6% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 2,524 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 9.4% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 15.7% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 13.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial and marine protected areas in IBRD only?
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas in IBRD only was 14.9% 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 terrestrial and marine protected areas recorded in IBRD only?
- The highest recorded value was 14.9% in 2024.
- What is the lowest terrestrial and marine protected areas recorded in IBRD only?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 2015.
- How does IBRD only rank for terrestrial and marine protected areas?
- IBRD only ranks 11th out of 45 groups with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial and marine protected areas rising or falling in IBRD only?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this IBRD only 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 Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area). 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
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.