Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — Saudi Arabia

Protected areas in Saudi Arabia in 2025 — 17%. Ranked 73 in the world out of 213. Since 2013, the indicator has fallen by 11.3 pp.

2025 17% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank 73of 213
Period maximum 28.3%2013
Period minimum 4%2016

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — Saudi Arabia, 2013–2025010203020132015201720192021202320252013: 28.3%2014: 28.3%2015: 28.3%2016: 4%2017: 4.6%2018: 4.5%2019: 4.5%2020: 4.5%2021: 4.5%2022: 4.5%2023: 14.2%2024: 17%2025: 17%
Change over the period: −11.3 pp Annual average: -0.94 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Saudi Arabia 17%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — Saudi Arabia, by year Saudi Arabia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 17 +0 pp
2024 17 +2.8 pp
2023 14.2 +9.7 pp
2022 4.5 +0 pp
2021 4.5 +0 pp
2020 4.5 +0 pp
2019 4.5 +0 pp
2018 4.5 −0.1 pp
2017 4.6 +0.6 pp
2016 4 −24.3 pp
2015 28.3 +0 pp
2014 28.3 +0 pp
2013 28.3

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.