Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — Germany

Protected areas in Germany in 2025 — 40%. Ranked 12 in the world out of 213. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 1.1 pp.

2025 40% −0.1 pp vs 2024
World rank 12of 213
Period maximum 40.1%2024
Period minimum 38.5%2014

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — Germany, 2013–202538.53939.54040.520132015201720192021202320252013: 38.9%2014: 38.5%2015: 38.5%2016: 38.8%2017: 38.8%2018: 38.8%2019: 38.5%2020: 38.8%2021: 38.5%2022: 38.7%2023: 38.7%2024: 40.1%2025: 40%
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: Germany

Germany 40%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — Germany, by year Germany All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 40 −0.1 pp
2024 40.1 +1.4 pp
2023 38.7 +0 pp
2022 38.7 +0.2 pp
2021 38.5 −0.3 pp
2020 38.8 +0.3 pp
2019 38.5 −0.3 pp
2018 38.8 +0 pp
2017 38.8 +0 pp
2016 38.8 +0.3 pp
2015 38.5 +0 pp
2014 38.5 −0.4 pp
2013 38.9

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.