Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) in United States
United States: Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) was 12.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Terrestrial protected areas in United States, 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 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 peaked at 13.6% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 2020.
That places United States 141st out of 213 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) in United States, 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% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 12.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 21.5%, 60% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
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
- 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
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 274,482 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 60,922 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 213,560 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 229.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 7,627 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 107,381 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 89,068 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 18,313 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 336.11 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 654.05 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial protected areas in United States?
- Terrestrial protected areas in United States 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?
- The highest recorded value was 13.6% in 2013.
- What is the lowest terrestrial protected areas recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 2020.
- How does United States rank for terrestrial protected areas?
- United States ranks 141st out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial protected areas rising or falling in United States?
- 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 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.