Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — France

Protected areas in France in 2025 — 36.7%. Ranked 19 in the world out of 213. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 13.2 pp.

2025 36.7% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 19of 213
Period maximum 36.8%2024
Period minimum 23.2%2015

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — France, 2013–2025202530354020132015201720192021202320252013: 23.5%2014: 23.4%2015: 23.2%2016: 25.9%2017: 27.8%2018: 33.2%2019: 35%2020: 36.2%2021: 36.4%2022: 36.6%2023: 36.6%2024: 36.8%2025: 36.7%
Change over the period: +13.2 pp Annual average: 1.1 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

France 36.7%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — France, by year France All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 36.7 −0.1 pp
2024 36.8 +0.2 pp
2023 36.6 +0 pp
2022 36.6 +0.2 pp
2021 36.4 +0.2 pp
2020 36.2 +1.2 pp
2019 35 +1.8 pp
2018 33.2 +5.4 pp
2017 27.8 +1.9 pp
2016 25.9 +2.7 pp
2015 23.2 −0.2 pp
2014 23.4 −0.1 pp
2013 23.5

Western Europe, 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.