Protected areas — all countries

Protected areas — World

Protected areas in the world in 2025 — 16.98%. Since 2013, the indicator has risen by 5.87 pp.

2025 16.98% +1.68 pp vs 2024
World rank
Period maximum 16.98%2025
Period minimum 11.1%2013

Trend over time

2013–2025 · % of territory

Protected areas — World, 2013–2025101214161820132015201720192021202320252013: 11.1%2014: 11.92%2015: 12.15%2016: 13.23%2017: 13.51%2018: 14.12%2019: 14.53%2020: 14.83%2021: 14.7%2022: 14.86%2023: 14.95%2024: 15.29%2025: 16.98%
Change over the period: +5.87 pp Annual average: 0.49 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

World 16.98%
World 16.98%
Protected areas — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 16.98 +1.68 pp
2024 15.29 +0.35 pp
2023 14.95 +0.09 pp
2022 14.86 +0.16 pp
2021 14.7 −0.13 pp
2020 14.83 +0.3 pp
2019 14.53 +0.41 pp
2018 14.12 +0.62 pp
2017 13.51 +0.28 pp
2016 13.23 +1.08 pp
2015 12.15 +0.23 pp
2014 11.92 +0.82 pp
2013 11.1

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.