Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in China
China: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 4.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in China, 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
China recorded 4.8% for share of marine territorial waters that are protected in 2025.
The figure is up 29.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in China peaked at 5.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 2013.
China ranks 66th of 174 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in China, year by year
| Year | % of territorial waters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3.4% | — |
| 2014 | 3.7% | +8.8% |
| 2015 | 3.7% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 5.4% | +42.1% |
| 2019 | 5.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 5.5% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 4.8% | -12.7% |
| 2025 | 4.8% | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 4.8% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.9%, 5.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
- China's 4.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.8%, 6.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.2% | 3.4% | 5.4% | 7 |
| 2020s | 5.3% | 4.8% | 5.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of marine territorial waters that are protected in China?
- Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in China was 4.8% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 5.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 2013.
- How does China rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
- China ranks 66th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of marine territorial waters that are protected rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China 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.