Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — Bulgaria

Protected areas in Bulgaria in 2025 — 35.6%. Ranked 20 in the world out of 213. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 0.6 pp.

2025 35.6% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank 20of 213
Period maximum 35.6%2024
Period minimum 28.3%2016

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — Bulgaria, 2013–2025283032343620132015201720192021202320252013: 35%2014: 31.5%2015: 32.8%2016: 28.3%2017: 28.3%2018: 28.3%2019: 32.8%2020: 33.1%2021: 33.1%2022: 33.1%2023: 33.1%2024: 35.6%2025: 35.6%
Change over the period: +0.6 pp Annual average: 0.05 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Bulgaria

Bulgaria 35.6%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 35.6 +0 pp
2024 35.6 +2.5 pp
2023 33.1 +0 pp
2022 33.1 +0 pp
2021 33.1 +0 pp
2020 33.1 +0.3 pp
2019 32.8 +4.5 pp
2018 28.3 +0 pp
2017 28.3 +0 pp
2016 28.3 −4.5 pp
2015 32.8 +1.3 pp
2014 31.5 −3.5 pp
2013 35

About the indicator

The share of terrestrial and marine protected areas in the total area of a country: national parks, nature reserves, natural monuments, sanctuaries and other IUCN categories. The target set by the Kunming-Montreal framework is 30 percent of land and sea under protection by 2030.

Important: The aggregate is weighted by total area rather than land area: protected areas include marine waters as well.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.