Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — Sub-Saharan Africa

Protected areas in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2025 — 13.98%. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 2.05 pp.

2025 13.98% +0.18 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 13.98%2025
Period minimum 11.48%2014

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — Sub-Saharan Africa, 2013–20251112131420132015201720192021202320252013: 11.93%2014: 11.48%2015: 11.61%2016: 12.09%2017: 12.41%2018: 12.18%2019: 12.47%2020: 13.34%2021: 13.4%2022: 13.41%2023: 13.67%2024: 13.8%2025: 13.98%
Change over the period: +2.05 pp Annual average: 0.17 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 13.98%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 13.98 +0.18 pp
2024 13.8 +0.13 pp
2023 13.67 +0.25 pp
2022 13.41 +0.02 pp
2021 13.4 +0.05 pp
2020 13.34 +0.87 pp
2019 12.47 +0.29 pp
2018 12.18 −0.23 pp
2017 12.41 +0.32 pp
2016 12.09 +0.48 pp
2015 11.61 +0.14 pp
2014 11.48 −0.45 pp
2013 11.93

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.