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

Latest (2025)
87.4%
World rank
5th
of 174 countries
All-time high
87.4%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 2013
Years of data
13
2013–2025

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

0204060802013201920252013: 0 % of territorial waters2014: 0 % of territorial waters2015: 0 % of territorial waters2016: 0 % of territorial waters2017: 0 % of territorial waters2018: 0 % of territorial waters2019: 0 % of territorial waters2020: 0 % of territorial waters2021: 0 % of territorial waters2022: 0 % of territorial waters2023: 0 % of territorial waters2024: 0 % of territorial waters2025: 87.4 % 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

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 7
2020s 14.6% 0.0% 87.4% 6

Countries ranked near French Polynesia

  1. 2 Palau 98.0% compare
  2. 3 Saint Martin (French part) 97.0% compare
  3. 4 New Caledonia 96.5% compare
  4. 6 Kazakhstan 52.5% compare
  5. 7 France 49.2% compare
  6. 8 United Kingdom 46.8% compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More reference data data for French Polynesia

All data for French Polynesia →

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

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.