Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Gibraltar

Gibraltar: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 14.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
14.2%
World rank
40th
of 174 countries
All-time high
14.2%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 2013
Years of data
13
2013–2025

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

0510152013201920252013: 0 % of territorial waters2014: 12.8 % of territorial waters2015: 12.8 % of territorial waters2016: 12.8 % of territorial waters2017: 12.8 % of territorial waters2018: 12.8 % of territorial waters2019: 12.8 % of territorial waters2020: 0 % of territorial waters2021: 0 % of territorial waters2022: 0 % of territorial waters2023: 0 % of territorial waters2024: 0 % of territorial waters2025: 14.2 % 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

Gibraltar recorded 14.2% for share of marine territorial waters that are protected in 2025. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Gibraltar peaked at 14.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2013.

That places Gibraltar 40th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.

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 Gibraltar, year by year

Annual values for Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Gibraltar, 2013 to 2025.
Year % of territorial waters Change
2013 0.0%
2014 12.8%
2015 12.8% +0.0%
2016 12.8% +0.0%
2017 12.8% +0.0%
2018 12.8% +0.0%
2019 12.8% +0.0%
2020 0.0% -100.0%
2021 0.0%
2022 0.0%
2023 0.0%
2024 0.0%
2025 14.2%

Gibraltar compared with similar countries

  • Gibraltar's 14.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.7%, 1.6× the median. (75 countries reporting)
  • Gibraltar's 14.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.0%, 1.3× the median. (39 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 11.0% 0.0% 12.8% 7
2020s 2.4% 0.0% 14.2% 6

Countries ranked near Gibraltar

  1. 37 Oman 16.2% compare
  2. 38 Sweden 16.1% compare
  3. 39 South Africa 15.4% compare
  4. 41 Congo 14.1% compare
  5. 42 Japan 13.8% compare
  6. 43 Dominican Republic 13.3% compare

See the full ranking of 174 places →

More reference data data for Gibraltar

All data for Gibraltar →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Gibraltar?
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Gibraltar was 14.2% 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 Gibraltar?
The highest recorded value was 14.2% in 2025.
What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in Gibraltar?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2013.
How does Gibraltar rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
Gibraltar ranks 40th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
Is share of marine territorial waters that are protected rising or falling in Gibraltar?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Gibraltar 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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Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Gibraltar. Statizoid, drawing on Protected Planet WDPA and WD-OECM data, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/marine-protected-areas/gibraltar/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/marine-protected-areas/gibraltar/">Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Gibraltar</a> — Statizoid

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.