French Polynesia vs United Kingdom: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected
French Polynesia
87.4%
in 2025
United Kingdom
46.8%
in 2025
French Polynesia rank
5th
United Kingdom rank
8th
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected over time
- French Polynesia
- United Kingdom
How they compare
French Polynesia currently reports 87.4% against 46.8% in United Kingdom, a difference of 40.6%.
That makes French Polynesia's figure about 1.9 times United Kingdom's.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 13 shared years of data; in 2013 it was United Kingdom ahead.
French Polynesia ranks 5th and United Kingdom ranks 8th of 174 countries.
United Kingdom has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | French Polynesia | United Kingdom | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.0% | 20.5% | 20.5% | United Kingdom |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 45.0% | 30.5% | United Kingdom |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher share of marine territorial waters that are protected, French Polynesia or United Kingdom?
- French Polynesia, at 87.4% against 46.8% in United Kingdom as of 2025.
- What is the difference in share of marine territorial waters that are protected between French Polynesia and United Kingdom?
- 40.6%, with French Polynesia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for French Polynesia and United Kingdom?
- 13 years are reported by both, from 2013 to 2025.
- How do French Polynesia and United Kingdom rank globally for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
- French Polynesia ranks 5th and United Kingdom ranks 8th of 174 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Protected Planet WDPA and WD-OECM data, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Share of marine territorial waters that are protected. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Marine protected areas are regions of intertidal or sub-tidal land and associated water, flora and fauna, and cultural and historical features that have been legally or effectively reserved for protection.