Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Terrestrial and marine protected areas was 17.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Saudi Arabia, 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
In 2025, terrestrial and marine protected areas in Saudi Arabia stood at 17.0%.
That represents a change of down 39.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial and marine protected areas in Saudi Arabia peaked at 28.3% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2016.
That places Saudi Arabia 73rd out of 213 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of total territorial area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 28.3% | — |
| 2014 | 28.3% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 28.3% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 4.0% | -85.9% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | +15.0% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 4.5% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 14.2% | +215.6% |
| 2024 | 17.0% | +19.7% |
| 2025 | 17.0% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 14.6% | 4.0% | 28.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 10.3% | 4.5% | 17.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More climate change data for Saudi Arabia
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,043 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,830 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,213 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 79.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,017 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,002 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 15.05 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 3.78 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.5376 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial and marine protected areas in Saudi Arabia?
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Saudi Arabia was 17.0% 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.3% in 2013.
- What is the lowest terrestrial and marine protected areas recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2016.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for terrestrial and marine protected areas?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 73rd out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial and marine protected areas rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.
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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.