Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — North America

Protected areas in North America in 2025 — 13.67%. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 3.64 pp.

2025 13.67% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 17.62%2019
Period minimum 9.23%2014

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — North America, 2013–20257.51012.51517.52020132015201720192021202320252013: 10.02%2014: 9.23%2015: 13.47%2016: 16.89%2017: 17.05%2018: 17.21%2019: 17.62%2020: 16.99%2021: 13.35%2022: 13.63%2023: 13.68%2024: 13.67%2025: 13.67%
Change over the period: +3.64 pp Annual average: 0.3 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

North America 13.67%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 13.67 +0 pp
2024 13.67 −0.01 pp
2023 13.68 +0.05 pp
2022 13.63 +0.27 pp
2021 13.35 −3.64 pp
2020 16.99 −0.63 pp
2019 17.62 +0.41 pp
2018 17.21 +0.16 pp
2017 17.05 +0.16 pp
2016 16.89 +3.42 pp
2015 13.47 +4.24 pp
2014 9.23 −0.79 pp
2013 10.02

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.