Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Canada
Canada: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 9.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Canada, 2013–2025
Source: Protected Planet WDPA and WD-OECM data, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of territorial waters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Canada is 9.2%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 922.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Canada peaked at 9.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2013.
That places Canada 52nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.5% | 0.8% | 3.1% | 7 |
| 2020s | 9.0% | 8.8% | 9.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 49 Italy 11.0% compare
- 50 Isle of Man 10.8% compare
- 51 Croatia 9.3% compare
- 53 Guinea-Bissau 9.1% compare
- 54 American Samoa 8.7% compare
- 55 Bangladesh 8.6% compare
- 55 Cyprus 8.6% compare
More reference data data for Canada
- Spring temperature anomalies -4.58 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 1.7 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 2.12 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 2.47 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies -2.57 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 140.97 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Canada?
- Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Canada was 9.2% in 2025, according to Protected Planet WDPA and WD-OECM data, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 9.2% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2013.
- How does Canada rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
- Canada ranks 52nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of marine territorial waters that are protected rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 922.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures 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 part of Share of marine territorial waters that are protected. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.