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.
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Canada, year by year
| Year | % of territorial waters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0.8% | — |
| 2014 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.9% | +12.5% |
| 2016 | 0.9% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | +222.2% |
| 2019 | 3.1% | +6.9% |
| 2020 | 8.8% | +183.9% |
| 2021 | 8.9% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 9.1% | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 9.1% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 9.2% | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 9.2% | +0.0% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 9.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.7%, 1.1× the median. (75 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | +222.2% | 0.9% | 2.9% |
| 2020 | +183.9% | 3.1% | 8.8% |
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
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.92 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 20.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 6.86 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 22.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 99.83 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.88 (2050)
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.
Download this data
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.