Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Spain
Spain: Terrestrial and marine protected areas was 22.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Spain, 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 Spain stood at 22.1%. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 23.5% on the previous year and up 56.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial and marine protected areas in Spain peaked at 22.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10.1%, in 2014.
That places Spain 53rd out of 213 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | % of total territorial area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 11.1% | — |
| 2014 | 10.1% | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 14.1% | +39.6% |
| 2016 | 15.0% | +6.4% |
| 2017 | 14.9% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 15.0% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 17.9% | +19.3% |
| 2020 | 17.9% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 17.9% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 17.9% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 17.9% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 17.9% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 22.1% | +23.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 14.0% | 10.1% | 17.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 18.6% | 17.9% | 22.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More climate change data for Spain
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 31,851 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,475 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 24,376 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 28.21 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 870.55 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 8,160 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 6,530 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 1,630 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 24.64 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 58.21 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial and marine protected areas in Spain?
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Spain was 22.1% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 22.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest terrestrial and marine protected areas recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.1% in 2014.
- How does Spain rank for terrestrial and marine protected areas?
- Spain ranks 53rd out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial and marine protected areas rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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.