Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Congo
Congo: Terrestrial and marine protected areas was 34.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Congo, 2013–2025
Source: Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM), UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring . Measured in % of total territorial area.
Analysis
In 2025, terrestrial and marine protected areas in Congo stood at 34.2%.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial and marine protected areas in Congo peaked at 36.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 33.0%, in 2013.
That places Congo 21st out of 213 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 35.3% | 33.0% | 36.8% | 7 |
| 2020s | 33.4% | 33.3% | 34.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Congo
More climate change data for Congo
- Population growth 2.4% (2025)
- Population, total 6.48 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 2.7% (2025)
- Urban population 4.16 million (2025)
- Urban population 64.1% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 65.3% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 0.046 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 0.0% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 36.6% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 14.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial and marine protected areas in Congo?
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas in Congo was 34.2% in 2025, according to Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM), UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring .
- What is the highest terrestrial and marine protected areas recorded in Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 36.8% in 2018.
- What is the lowest terrestrial and marine protected areas recorded in Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.0% in 2013.
- How does Congo rank for terrestrial and marine protected areas?
- Congo ranks 21st out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial and marine protected areas rising or falling in Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Congo data come from?
- The figures come from Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM), UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring , published as part of Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Terrestrial protected areas are totally or partially protected areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities as scientific reserves with limited public access, national parks, natural monuments, nature reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes, and areas managed mainly for sustainable use. Marine protected areas are areas of intertidal or subtidal terrain--and overlying water and associated flora and fauna and historical and cultural features--that have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment. Sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.