Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — High-income countries

Protected areas in high-income countries in 2023 — 15.46%. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 2.67 pp.

2023 15.46% +0.27 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 15.62%2020
Period minimum 12.39%2014

Trend over time

2013–2023 · % of territory

Protected areas — High-income countries, 2013–20231213141516201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232013: 12.79%2014: 12.39%2015: 13.66%2016: 14.12%2017: 14.42%2018: 14.77%2019: 15.2%2020: 15.62%2021: 15.02%2022: 15.19%2023: 15.46%
Change over the period: +2.67 pp Annual average: 0.27 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: High-income countries

High-income countries 15.46%
World 14.95%
Protected areas — High-income countries, by year High-income countries All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 15.46 +0.27 pp
2022 15.19 +0.17 pp
2021 15.02 −0.59 pp
2020 15.62 +0.41 pp
2019 15.2 +0.43 pp
2018 14.77 +0.35 pp
2017 14.42 +0.3 pp
2016 14.12 +0.45 pp
2015 13.66 +1.27 pp
2014 12.39 −0.4 pp
2013 12.79

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.