Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — Europe & Central Asia

Protected areas in Europe & Central Asia in 2025 — 13.15%. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 2.82 pp.

2025 13.15% +0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 13.15%2025
Period minimum 9.83%2014

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — Europe & Central Asia, 2013–20259101112131420132015201720192021202320252013: 10.33%2014: 9.83%2015: 9.9%2016: 10.28%2017: 10.75%2018: 10.89%2019: 11.03%2020: 12.37%2021: 12.9%2022: 12.91%2023: 12.69%2024: 12.96%2025: 13.15%
Change over the period: +2.82 pp Annual average: 0.24 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Europe & Central Asia

Europe & Central Asia 13.15%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — Europe & Central Asia, by year Europe & Central Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 13.15 +0.2 pp
2024 12.96 +0.26 pp
2023 12.69 −0.21 pp
2022 12.91 +0.01 pp
2021 12.9 +0.53 pp
2020 12.37 +1.33 pp
2019 11.03 +0.14 pp
2018 10.89 +0.14 pp
2017 10.75 +0.47 pp
2016 10.28 +0.38 pp
2015 9.9 +0.08 pp
2014 9.83 −0.5 pp
2013 10.33

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.