Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — United States

Protected areas in the United States in 2025 — 15.8%. Ranked 82 in the world out of 213. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 2.3 pp.

2025 15.8% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank 82of 213
Period maximum 26.6%2017
Period minimum 12%2014

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — United States, 2013–2025101520253020132015201720192021202320252013: 13.5%2014: 12%2015: 20.1%2016: 26.3%2017: 26.6%2018: 26.3%2019: 26.3%2020: 23.9%2021: 15.9%2022: 15.9%2023: 15.9%2024: 15.8%2025: 15.8%
Change over the period: +2.3 pp Annual average: 0.19 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United States

United States 15.8%
World 16.98%
North America 13.67%
Protected areas — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 15.8 +0 pp
2024 15.8 −0.1 pp
2023 15.9 +0 pp
2022 15.9 +0 pp
2021 15.9 −8 pp
2020 23.9 −2.4 pp
2019 26.3 +0 pp
2018 26.3 −0.3 pp
2017 26.6 +0.3 pp
2016 26.3 +6.2 pp
2015 20.1 +8.1 pp
2014 12 −1.5 pp
2013 13.5

Northern America, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

US United States 15.8 CA Canada 11.6 BM Bermuda 0

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.