Terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Terrestrial protected areas was 28.4% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 28.8% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 27.8%, in 2021.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 45th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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% |
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More climate change data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.7% (2100)
- Urban population 83.3% (2025)
- Urban population 57.90 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.4% (2025)
- Population, total 69.49 million (2025)
- Population growth 0.3% (2025)
- Annual Net Emissions/Removals 370.74 (2024)
- Temperature change with respect to a baseline climatology 1.49 (2024)
- Per capita CO₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use 4.53 tonnes per person (2024)
- Share of global cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change 2.9% (2024)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Terrestrial protected areas in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 28.8% in 2014.
- What is the lowest terrestrial protected areas recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.8% in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for terrestrial protected areas?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 45th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial protected areas rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.