Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) by country
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...
Countries reporting
213
Highest
68.1%
Seychelles
Lowest
0.0%
Somalia
Median
17.0%
Years covered
13
2013–2025
Data points
3,357
What the numbers show
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area) is currently reported for 213 countries. The highest value is 68.1% in Seychelles; the lowest is 0.0% in Somalia.
The median across all reporting countries is 17.0%, and the mean is 18.9%.
Over the past decade 144 countries rose and 54 fell. The largest increase was in Lesotho (up 7,700.0%), and the largest decrease in Eritrea (down 100.0%).
Terrestrial protected areas: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seychelles | 68.1% | 2025 | up 61.8% | rising |
| 2 | New Caledonia | 59.6% | 2025 | up 9.2% | rising |
| 3 | Venezuela | 56.8% | 2025 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 4 | Bhutan | 51.6% | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 5 | Liechtenstein | 44.8% | 2025 | up 6.2% | rising |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 44.3% | 2025 | up 9.1% | rising |
| 7 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 43.5% | 2025 | down 2.0% | flat |
| 8 | Guinea | 42.6% | 2025 | up 38.8% | rising |
| 9 | Hong Kong | 42.0% | 2025 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 10 | Greenland | 41.9% | 2025 | up 1.7% | flat |
| 11 | Zambia | 41.3% | 2025 | up 8.7% | rising |
| 12 | Slovenia | 40.4% | 2025 | down 24.6% | falling |
| 13 | Brunei | 39.9% | 2025 | down 14.9% | falling |
| 13 | Namibia | 39.9% | 2025 | up 5.3% | flat |
| 13 | Tanzania | 39.9% | 2025 | up 25.1% | rising |
| 16 | Cambodia | 39.8% | 2025 | up 53.1% | rising |
| 17 | Poland | 39.6% | 2025 | up 32.0% | rising |
| 18 | Germany | 39.2% | 2025 | up 4.8% | flat |
| 19 | Luxembourg | 39.1% | 2025 | up 20.3% | rising |
| 20 | Armenia | 38.9% | 2025 | up 68.4% | rising |
| 21 | Cyprus | 38.6% | 2025 | up 109.8% | rising |
| 22 | Croatia | 38.4% | 2025 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 23 | Slovakia | 37.5% | 2025 | up 1.9% | flat |
| 24 | Belize | 37.3% | 2025 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 25 | Congo | 36.6% | 2025 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 26 | Benin | 36.1% | 2025 | up 24.9% | rising |
| 27 | Greece | 35.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 28 | Bahamas | 34.6% | 2025 | up 10.9% | rising |
| 29 | Comoros | 33.7% | 2025 | up 230.4% | volatile |
| 30 | New Zealand | 33.4% | 2025 | up 2.8% | rising |
| 31 | Sao Tome and Principe | 31.7% | 2025 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 32 | Panama | 31.4% | 2025 | up 50.2% | rising |
| 32 | Palau | 31.4% | 2025 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 34 | Bolivia | 30.9% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 35 | Sri Lanka | 30.8% | 2025 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 36 | Brazil | 30.6% | 2025 | up 7.4% | rising |
| 36 | Trinidad and Tobago | 30.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 38 | Japan | 29.7% | 2025 | up 53.1% | rising |
| 39 | Austria | 29.6% | 2025 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 40 | Mozambique | 29.5% | 2025 | up 52.8% | rising |
| 41 | North Macedonia | 29.0% | 2025 | up 199.0% | rising |
| 41 | Malta | 29.0% | 2025 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 43 | Oman | 28.9% | 2025 | up 1,011.5% | volatile |
| 44 | France | 28.8% | 2025 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 45 | United Kingdom | 28.4% | 2025 | down 1.0% | flat |
| 46 | Zimbabwe | 28.3% | 2025 | up 6.0% | flat |
| 47 | Spain | 28.1% | 2025 | up 0.4% | flat |
| 48 | Togo | 27.9% | 2025 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 49 | Botswana | 27.6% | 2025 | down 5.2% | flat |
| 49 | Israel | 27.6% | 2025 | up 38.7% | rising |
| 51 | Senegal | 27.5% | 2025 | up 9.1% | rising |
| 52 | Andorra | 27.3% | 2025 | up 29.4% | rising |
| 53 | Gibraltar | 27.0% | 2025 | down 16.7% | volatile |
| 54 | Aruba | 26.9% | 2025 | up 5,280.0% | volatile |
| 55 | Costa Rica | 26.6% | 2025 | down 3.6% | flat |
| 56 | Dominican Republic | 26.3% | 2025 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 57 | Guinea-Bissau | 26.2% | 2025 | up 61.7% | rising |
| 58 | Romania | 24.6% | 2025 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 59 | Ecuador | 23.8% | 2025 | up 19.0% | flat |
| 60 | Albania | 23.6% | 2025 | up 807.7% | rising |
| 60 | Nepal | 23.6% | 2025 | up 0.9% | rising |
| 62 | Lesotho | 23.4% | 2025 | up 7,700.0% | volatile |
| 63 | Malawi | 23.1% | 2025 | up 36.7% | rising |
| 64 | Honduras | 23.0% | 2025 | down 17.9% | falling |
| 64 | Portugal | 23.0% | 2025 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 66 | Cote d'Ivoire | 22.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 66 | Kiribati | 22.9% | 2025 | up 3.2% | flat |
| 66 | Netherlands | 22.9% | 2025 | up 102.7% | rising |
| 69 | Georgia | 22.8% | 2025 | up 174.7% | rising |
| 70 | Gabon | 22.6% | 2025 | up 12.4% | rising |
| 70 | Tajikistan | 22.6% | 2025 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 70 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 22.6% | 2025 | up 0.9% | rising |
| 73 | Hungary | 22.3% | 2025 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 74 | Montenegro | 22.2% | 2025 | up 441.5% | volatile |
| 75 | Azerbaijan | 22.1% | 2025 | up 116.7% | rising |
| 75 | Peru | 22.1% | 2025 | down 29.8% | falling |
| 77 | Australia | 22.0% | 2025 | up 49.7% | rising |
| 78 | Czechia | 21.9% | 2025 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 79 | Chile | 21.6% | 2025 | up 18.0% | rising |
| 79 | Estonia | 21.6% | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 81 | Italy | 21.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 82 | Dominica | 21.4% | 2025 | down 2.7% | flat |
| 83 | Nicaragua | 21.2% | 2025 | down 43.0% | falling |
| 84 | Niger | 21.0% | 2025 | up 21.4% | rising |
| 84 | Chad | 21.0% | 2025 | up 12.9% | rising |
| 86 | Iceland | 20.9% | 2025 | up 25.1% | rising |
| 86 | Monaco | 20.9% | 2025 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 88 | Tuvalu | 20.2% | 2025 | up 910.0% | volatile |
| 89 | Guatemala | 20.1% | 2025 | down 36.6% | falling |
| 90 | Jamaica | 19.9% | 2025 | up 25.2% | rising |
| 91 | Mongolia | 19.8% | 2025 | up 13.8% | rising |
| 92 | United Arab Emirates | 19.2% | 2025 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 93 | Pakistan | 19.1% | 2025 | up 55.3% | rising |
| 94 | Equatorial Guinea | 19.0% | 2025 | down 18.5% | falling |
| 95 | Laos | 18.8% | 2025 | up 12.6% | rising |
| 95 | Latvia | 18.8% | 2025 | up 3.3% | flat |
| 97 | Saudi Arabia | 18.5% | 2025 | down 40.9% | volatile |
| 98 | Thailand | 18.4% | 2025 | down 2.1% | flat |
| 99 | Saint Lucia | 18.2% | 2025 | down 2.7% | rising |
| 100 | Lithuania | 18.0% | 2025 | up 6.5% | flat |
| 101 | Norway | 17.8% | 2025 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 102 | South Korea | 17.7% | 2025 | up 132.9% | rising |
| 103 | Cape Verde | 17.6% | 2025 | up 576.9% | volatile |
| 104 | Colombia | 17.2% | 2025 | up 23.7% | falling |
| 105 | Kuwait | 17.1% | 2025 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 105 | Ukraine | 17.1% | 2025 | up 327.5% | volatile |
| 107 | Ethiopia | 17.0% | 2025 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 108 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 16.9% | 2025 | up 412.1% | volatile |
| 109 | Burkina Faso | 16.8% | 2025 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 110 | Antigua and Barbuda | 16.5% | 2025 | down 14.5% | rising |
| 110 | Curacao | 16.5% | 2025 | up 6.5% | rising |
| 112 | American Samoa | 16.4% | 2025 | up 310.0% | volatile |
| 112 | Belgium | 16.4% | 2025 | down 28.1% | falling |
| 112 | Denmark | 16.4% | 2025 | down 35.9% | falling |
| 115 | Marshall Islands | 16.1% | 2025 | up 35.3% | rising |
| 115 | East Timor | 16.1% | 2025 | up 85.1% | rising |
| 115 | Uganda | 16.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 118 | Philippines | 16.0% | 2025 | up 4.6% | rising |
| 119 | Sweden | 15.8% | 2025 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 120 | China | 15.6% | 2025 | down 8.8% | falling |
| 120 | Cuba | 15.6% | 2025 | up 25.8% | rising |
| 120 | Qatar | 15.6% | 2025 | up 550.0% | volatile |
| 123 | South Sudan | 15.4% | 2025 | down 0.6% | falling |
| 124 | Ghana | 15.3% | 2025 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 124 | Mexico | 15.3% | 2025 | up 11.7% | rising |
| 126 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 14.9% | 2025 | up 17.3% | rising |
| 126 | Paraguay | 14.9% | 2025 | up 129.2% | rising |
| 128 | Central African Republic | 14.8% | 2025 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 128 | Suriname | 14.8% | 2025 | up 2.1% | flat |
| 130 | Ireland | 14.2% | 2025 | down 1.4% | flat |
| 131 | Uzbekistan | 14.1% | 2025 | up 314.7% | volatile |
| 132 | Serbia | 14.0% | 2025 | up 109.0% | rising |
| 133 | Finland | 13.9% | 2025 | down 7.3% | falling |
| 133 | Kenya | 13.9% | 2025 | up 13.9% | flat |
| 133 | Nigeria | 13.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 136 | Malaysia | 13.3% | 2025 | down 30.4% | falling |
| 136 | Tonga | 13.3% | 2025 | down 16.4% | falling |
| 136 | United States Virgin Islands | 13.3% | 2025 | down 8.9% | falling |
| 139 | Egypt | 13.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 140 | Lebanon | 13.0% | 2025 | up 400.0% | volatile |
| 141 | Canada | 12.9% | 2025 | up 38.7% | rising |
| 141 | United States | 12.9% | 2025 | down 1.5% | flat |
| 143 | Madagascar | 12.8% | 2025 | up 156.0% | rising |
| 144 | Sierra Leone | 12.6% | 2025 | up 34.0% | rising |
| 145 | Switzerland | 12.5% | 2025 | up 28.9% | falling |
| 146 | Indonesia | 12.0% | 2025 | up 0.8% | falling |
| 147 | Bahrain | 11.7% | 2025 | up 77.3% | falling |
| 148 | Moldova | 11.5% | 2025 | up 173.8% | volatile |
| 148 | Russia | 11.5% | 2025 | up 18.6% | rising |
| 150 | Cameroon | 11.0% | 2025 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 151 | Angola | 10.8% | 2025 | up 54.3% | rising |
| 152 | British Virgin Islands | 10.5% | 2025 | up 19.3% | rising |
| 153 | Kazakhstan | 10.1% | 2025 | up 206.1% | volatile |
| 154 | Palestine | 10.0% | 2025 | up 19.0% | rising |
| 155 | South Africa | 9.6% | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 156 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9.5% | 2025 | up 533.3% | volatile |
| 157 | Saint Martin (French part) | 9.3% | 2025 | up 6.9% | flat |
| 158 | Belarus | 9.2% | 2025 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 159 | Rwanda | 9.1% | 2025 | up 3.4% | falling |
| 160 | Argentina | 8.8% | 2025 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 160 | Cayman Islands | 8.8% | 2025 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 160 | Grenada | 8.8% | 2025 | down 5.4% | rising |
| 163 | Haiti | 8.6% | 2025 | up 2,766.7% | volatile |
| 164 | Guyana | 8.4% | 2025 | down 3.4% | flat |
| 165 | El Salvador | 8.3% | 2025 | down 5.7% | flat |
| 166 | Tunisia | 7.9% | 2025 | up 46.3% | rising |
| 166 | Samoa | 7.9% | 2025 | up 16.2% | rising |
| 168 | Iran | 7.8% | 2025 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 169 | Gambia | 7.7% | 2025 | up 87.8% | rising |
| 169 | India | 7.7% | 2025 | up 28.3% | rising |
| 171 | Burundi | 7.6% | 2025 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 171 | Vietnam | 7.6% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 173 | Mali | 7.5% | 2025 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 174 | Turkey | 7.0% | 2025 | up 3,400.0% | volatile |
| 175 | Kyrgyzstan | 6.8% | 2025 | up 4.6% | flat |
| 176 | Myanmar | 6.7% | 2025 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 177 | Puerto Rico | 6.6% | 2025 | down 10.8% | falling |
| 178 | French Polynesia | 5.6% | 2025 | up 180.0% | rising |
| 179 | Jordan | 5.4% | 2025 | up 217.6% | rising |
| 180 | Mauritius | 5.0% | 2025 | up 6.4% | rising |
| 181 | Vanuatu | 4.8% | 2025 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 182 | Algeria | 4.7% | 2025 | down 37.3% | falling |
| 183 | Isle of Man | 4.6% | 2025 | up 1,433.3% | rising |
| 183 | Singapore | 4.6% | 2025 | down 17.9% | falling |
| 185 | Turkmenistan | 4.3% | 2025 | up 34.4% | rising |
| 186 | Bangladesh | 4.2% | 2025 | down 8.7% | falling |
| 186 | Guam | 4.2% | 2025 | down 80.8% | volatile |
| 186 | Eswatini | 4.2% | 2025 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 189 | Liberia | 4.0% | 2025 | up 60.0% | rising |
| 190 | Fiji | 3.9% | 2025 | down 27.8% | falling |
| 191 | Papua New Guinea | 3.7% | 2025 | up 19.4% | rising |
| 192 | Afghanistan | 3.6% | 2025 | up 800.0% | volatile |
| 193 | Uruguay | 3.1% | 2025 | up 14.8% | rising |
| 194 | Maldives | 3.0% | 2025 | up 172.7% | rising |
| 195 | Northern Mariana Islands | 2.8% | 2025 | down 63.2% | volatile |
| 195 | Sudan | 2.8% | 2025 | up 40.0% | rising |
| 197 | Faroe Islands | 2.4% | 2025 | up 4.3% | falling |
| 197 | North Korea | 2.4% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 197 | Solomon Islands | 2.4% | 2025 | up 9.1% | flat |
| 200 | Bermuda | 2.3% | 2025 | down 60.3% | volatile |
| 201 | Morocco | 2.1% | 2025 | down 93.2% | volatile |
| 202 | Djibouti | 1.6% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 203 | Iraq | 1.5% | 2025 | up 66.7% | rising |
| 204 | Barbados | 1.1% | 2025 | down 15.4% | rising |
| 204 | Yemen | 1.1% | 2025 | up 37.5% | rising |
| 206 | Syria | 0.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 207 | Mauritania | 0.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 208 | Libya | 0.1% | 2025 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 208 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 0.1% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 210 | Eritrea | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 210 | Micronesia (country) | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 210 | Nauru | 0.0% | 2025 | — | flat |
| 210 | Somalia | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Central Europe and the Baltics 31.0%
- Euro area 27.5%
- European Union 26.6%
- Latin America & Caribbean (excluding high income) 24.9%
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 24.5%
- Latin America & Caribbean 24.4%
- Other small states 23.7%
- Lower middle income 19.8%
- Africa Eastern and Southern 17.9%
- East Asia & Pacific 17.6%
- Middle income 17.3%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 17.3%
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 areas, unclassified areas, littoral (intertidal) areas, and sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.