Terrestrial protected areas in United States of America
United States of America: Terrestrial protected areas was 12.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Terrestrial protected areas in United States of America, 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 States of America is 12.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial protected areas in United States of America peaked at 13.6% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 2020.
That places United States of America 141st out of 213 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Terrestrial protected areas in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % of total land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 13.6% | — |
| 2014 | 13.1% | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 13.1% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 13.0% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 13.5% | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 13.0% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 13.0% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 11.8% | -9.2% |
| 2021 | 13.0% | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 13.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12.9% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 12.9% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 12.9% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.2% | 13.0% | 13.6% | 7 |
| 2020s | 12.8% | 11.8% | 13.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 139 Egypt 13.1% compare
- 140 Lebanon 13.0% compare
- 141 Canada 12.9% compare
- 143 Madagascar 12.8% compare
- 144 Sierra Leone 12.6% compare
More climate change data for United States of America
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 4.1% (2100)
- Urban population 80.2% (2025)
- Urban population 274.08 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.6% (2025)
- Population, total 341.79 million (2025)
- Population growth 0.5% (2025)
- Annual Net Emissions/Removals 6,164 (2024)
- Temperature change with respect to a baseline climatology 1.95 (2024)
- Per capita CO₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use 14.2 tonnes per person (2024)
- Share of global cumulative CO₂ emissions including land-use change 20.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial protected areas in United States of America?
- Terrestrial protected areas in United States of America was 12.9% 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 States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 13.6% in 2013.
- What is the lowest terrestrial protected areas recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 2020.
- How does United States of America rank for terrestrial protected areas?
- United States of America ranks 141st out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial protected areas rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States of America 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.