Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 28.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Costa Rica, 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
Costa Rica recorded 28.4% for share of marine territorial waters that are protected in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3,450.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Costa Rica peaked at 29.0% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2013.
Costa Rica ranks 18th of 174 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | % of territorial waters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0.8% | — |
| 2014 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2.6% | +225.0% |
| 2020 | 2.7% | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 29.0% | +974.1% |
| 2023 | 29.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 28.4% | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 28.4% | +0.0% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 28.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.7%, 3.3× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 28.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 2.0%, 14.6× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 2.6% | 7 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 2.7% | 29.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 15 Seychelles 32.6% compare
- 16 Northern Mariana Islands 32.4% compare
- 17 New Zealand 30.4% compare
- 19 Denmark 27.1% compare
- 20 Gabon 26.8% compare
- 21 Brazil 26.6% compare
More reference data data for Costa Rica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2987 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.406 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.27 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.3161 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0907 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Costa Rica?
- Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Costa Rica was 28.4% 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 29.0% in 2022.
- What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2013.
- How does Costa Rica rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
- Costa Rica ranks 18th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of marine territorial waters that are protected rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,450.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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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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.