Terrestrial protected areas in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Terrestrial protected areas was 18.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Terrestrial 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 land area.
Analysis
In 2025, terrestrial protected areas in Saudi Arabia stood at 18.5%.
The figure is down 40.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial protected areas in Saudi Arabia peaked at 31.3% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 4.3%, in 2016.
Saudi Arabia ranks 97th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Terrestrial protected areas in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of total land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 31.3% | — |
| 2014 | 31.3% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 31.3% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -86.3% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | +11.6% |
| 2018 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 15.6% | +225.0% |
| 2024 | 18.5% | +18.6% |
| 2025 | 18.5% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 16.1% | 4.3% | 31.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 11.2% | 4.8% | 18.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 94 Equatorial Guinea 19.0% compare
- 95 Lao People's Democratic Republic 18.8% compare
- 95 Latvia 18.8% compare
- 98 Thailand 18.4% compare
- 99 Saint Lucia 18.2% compare
- 100 Lithuania 18.0% compare
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 protected areas in Saudi Arabia?
- Terrestrial protected areas in Saudi Arabia was 18.5% 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 protected areas recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 31.3% in 2013.
- What is the lowest terrestrial protected areas recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.3% in 2016.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for terrestrial protected areas?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 97th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial protected areas rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.9%. 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 protected areas (% of total land 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 areas, unclassified areas, littoral (intertidal) areas, and sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.