Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — China

Protected areas in China in 2025 — 14.7%. Ranked 92 in the world out of 213. Since 2013, the indicator has fallen by 1.1 pp.

2025 14.7% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank 92of 213
Period maximum 16%2017
Period minimum 14.7%2018

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — China, 2013–202514.51515.51620132015201720192021202320252013: 15.8%2014: 15.9%2015: 15.9%2016: 15.9%2017: 16%2018: 14.7%2019: 14.7%2020: 14.7%2021: 14.7%2022: 14.7%2023: 14.7%2024: 14.7%2025: 14.7%
Change over the period: −1.1 pp Annual average: -0.09 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

China 14.7%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — China, by year China All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 14.7 +0 pp
2024 14.7 +0 pp
2023 14.7 +0 pp
2022 14.7 +0 pp
2021 14.7 +0 pp
2020 14.7 +0 pp
2019 14.7 +0 pp
2018 14.7 −1.3 pp
2017 16 +0.1 pp
2016 15.9 +0 pp
2015 15.9 +0 pp
2014 15.9 +0.1 pp
2013 15.8

Eastern Asia, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.