Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of marine territorial waters that are protected was 46.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 46.8%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 274.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Kingdom peaked at 46.8% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5.7%, in 2013.
That places United Kingdom 8th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 20.5% | 5.7% | 29.2% | 7 |
| 2020s | 45.0% | 44.1% | 46.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More reference data data for United Kingdom
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- Summer temperature anomalies 2.09 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.4402 °C (2026)
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- Autumn temperature anomalies -0.1504 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 1.74 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 153.13 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 United Kingdom?
- Share of marine territorial waters that are protected in United Kingdom was 46.8% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 46.8% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of marine territorial waters that are protected recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.7% in 2013.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of marine territorial waters that are protected?
- United Kingdom ranks 8th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of marine territorial waters that are protected rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 274.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.