Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) was 28.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom, 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
The most recent figure for terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom is 28.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom peaked at 28.8% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 27.8%, in 2021.
United Kingdom ranks 45th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of total land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 28.0% | — |
| 2014 | 28.8% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 28.7% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 28.2% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 28.7% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 28.7% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 27.8% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 27.8% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 27.8% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 28.4% | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 28.4% | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 28.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 21.5%, 1.3× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 28.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 22.1%, 1.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 28.5% | 28.0% | 28.8% | 7 |
| 2020s | 28.2% | 27.8% | 28.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom?
- Terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom was 28.4% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 28.8% in 2014.
- What is the lowest terrestrial protected areas recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.8% in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for terrestrial protected areas?
- United Kingdom ranks 45th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial protected areas rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
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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 areas, unclassified areas, littoral (intertidal) areas, and sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.