Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Colombia

Colombia: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 41.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
41.1%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
12th
of 174 countries
All-time high
41.1%
in 2024
All-time low
2.1%
in 2015
Years of data
13
2013–2025

Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Colombia, 2013–2025

0102030402013201920252013: 10.2 % of territorial waters2014: 10.2 % of territorial waters2015: 2.1 % of territorial waters2016: 2.1 % of territorial waters2017: 10.4 % of territorial waters2018: 17.1 % of territorial waters2019: 17.1 % of territorial waters2020: 17.2 % of territorial waters2021: 17.2 % of territorial waters2022: 17.1 % of territorial waters2023: 17.1 % of territorial waters2024: 41.1 % of territorial waters2025: 41.1 % of territorial waters

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

In 2025, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Colombia stood at 41.1%. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1,857.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Colombia peaked at 41.1% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2015.

That places Colombia 12th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 9.9% 2.1% 17.1% 7
2020s 25.1% 17.1% 41.1% 6

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 9 Australia 45.4% compare
  2. 10 Germany 45.3% compare
  3. 11 Chile 41.2% compare
  4. 13 Belgium 38.3% compare
  5. 14 Netherlands 33.5% compare
  6. 15 Seychelles 32.6% compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More reference data data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Colombia?
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Colombia was 41.1% 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 Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 41.1% in 2024.
What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2015.
How does Colombia rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
Colombia ranks 12th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is share of marine territorial waters that are protected rising or falling in Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is up 1,857.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Colombia 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

Indicator
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected
Unit
% of territorial waters
Source
Protected Planet WDPA and WD-OECM data, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
174 places, 2,223 data points, 2013–2025
Last refreshed

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.