Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in French Polynesia
French Polynesia: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 87.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in French Polynesia, 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 French Polynesia is 87.4%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in French Polynesia peaked at 87.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2013.
That places French Polynesia 5th 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.
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in French Polynesia, year by year
| Year | % of territorial waters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0.0% | — |
| 2014 | 0.0% | — |
| 2015 | 0.0% | — |
| 2016 | 0.0% | — |
| 2017 | 0.0% | — |
| 2018 | 0.0% | — |
| 2019 | 0.0% | — |
| 2020 | 0.0% | — |
| 2021 | 0.0% | — |
| 2022 | 0.0% | — |
| 2023 | 0.0% | — |
| 2024 | 0.0% | — |
| 2025 | 87.4% | — |
French Polynesia compared with similar countries
- French Polynesia's 87.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.7%, 10.0× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- French Polynesia's 87.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.8%, 109.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 0.0% | 87.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near French Polynesia
- 2 Palau 98.0% compare
- 3 Saint Martin (French part) 97.0% compare
- 4 New Caledonia 96.5% compare
- 6 Kazakhstan 52.5% compare
- 7 France 49.2% compare
- 8 United Kingdom 46.8% compare
More reference data data for French Polynesia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0148 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0132 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 69.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Burning - Crop residues 0 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0603 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0024 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Burning - Crop residues 0.003 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Enteric 22.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0735 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of marine territorial waters that are protected in French Polynesia?
- Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in French Polynesia was 87.4% 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 French Polynesia?
- The highest recorded value was 87.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in French Polynesia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2013.
- How does French Polynesia rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
- French Polynesia ranks 5th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Where does this French Polynesia 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.