Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Spain
Spain: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 19.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Spain, 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 Spain is 19.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 48.4% on the previous year and up 167.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Spain peaked at 19.0% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2014.
Spain ranks 32nd of 174 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6.8% | 1.1% | 12.7% | 7 |
| 2020s | 13.8% | 12.8% | 19.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More reference data data for Spain
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.1449 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 3.07 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0798 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.423 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.3641 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 135.02 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Spain?
- Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in Spain was 19.0% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 19.0% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2014.
- How does Spain rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
- Spain ranks 32nd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of marine territorial waters that are protected rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 167.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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.