Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Palau
Palau: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 98.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Palau, 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
In 2025, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Palau stood at 98.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 32,566.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Palau peaked at 100.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 2013.
Palau ranks 2nd 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 Palau, year by year
| Year | % of territorial waters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 0.2% | — |
| 2014 | 0.3% | +50.0% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 83.0% | +27566.7% |
| 2017 | 83.0% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 83.0% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 100.0% | +20.5% |
| 2020 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 98.0% | -2.0% |
| 2025 | 98.0% | +0.0% |
Palau compared with similar countries
- Palau's 98.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.7%, 11.3× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Palau's 98.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.8%, 122.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 50.0% | 0.2% | 100.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 99.3% | 98.0% | 100.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Palau
- 1 Monaco 100.0% compare
- 3 Saint Martin (French part) 97.0% compare
- 4 New Caledonia 96.5% compare
- 5 French Polynesia 87.4% compare
More reference data data for Palau
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 0 (2019)
- Consumer price index 160.77 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Free country 2 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Palau?
- Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Palau was 98.0% 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 Palau?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in Palau?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 2013.
- How does Palau rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
- Palau ranks 2nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of marine territorial waters that are protected rising or falling in Palau?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32,566.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Palau 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.