Protected areas in Belgium

Belgium: Protected areas was 4,739 Square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
4,739 Square kilometre
Change on year
up 5.4%
World rank
32nd
of 35 countries
All-time high
4,739 Square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
4,370 Square kilometre
in 2011
Years of data
13
2011–2023

Protected areas in Belgium, 2011–2023

01.0k2.0k3.0k4.0k5.0k2011201720232011: 4.4k Square kilometre2012: 4.4k Square kilometre2013: 4.4k Square kilometre2014: 4.4k Square kilometre2015: 4.4k Square kilometre2016: 4.4k Square kilometre2017: 4.4k Square kilometre2018: 4.4k Square kilometre2019: 4.5k Square kilometre2020: 4.5k Square kilometre2021: 4.5k Square kilometre2022: 4.5k Square kilometre2023: 4.7k Square kilometre

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Square kilometre.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 4,739 Square kilometre for protected areas in 2023. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.

The figure is up 5.4% on the previous year and up 8.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, protected areas in Belgium peaked at 4,739 Square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4,370 Square kilometre, in 2011.

Belgium ranks 32nd of 35 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

Protected areas in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Protected areas in Belgium, 2011 to 2023.
Year Square kilometre Change
2011 4,370 Square kilometre —
2012 4,371 Square kilometre +0.0%
2013 4,373 Square kilometre +0.0%
2014 4,377 Square kilometre +0.1%
2015 4,378 Square kilometre +0.0%
2016 4,381 Square kilometre +0.1%
2017 4,385 Square kilometre +0.1%
2018 4,399 Square kilometre +0.3%
2019 4,470 Square kilometre +1.6%
2020 4,480 Square kilometre +0.2%
2021 4,496 Square kilometre +0.4%
2022 4,496 Square kilometre +0.0%
2023 4,739 Square kilometre +5.4%

Belgium compared with similar countries

  • Belgium's 4,739 Square kilometre is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20,712 Square kilometre, 23% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
  • Belgium's 4,739 Square kilometre is below the median for high income countries, which is 20,688 Square kilometre, 23% of the median. (27 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 4,389 Square kilometre 4,370 Square kilometre 4,470 Square kilometre 9
2020s 4,553 Square kilometre 4,480 Square kilometre 4,739 Square kilometre 4

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 29 Slovenia 8,213 Square kilometre compare
  2. 29 Slovenia 8,213 Square kilometre compare
  3. 31 Denmark 6,652 Square kilometre compare
  4. 33 Cyprus 3,470 Square kilometre compare
  5. 34 Luxembourg 1,001 Square kilometre compare
  6. 35 Malta 91 Square kilometre compare

See the full ranking of 36 places →

More reference data data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is protected areas in Belgium?
Protected areas in Belgium was 4,739 Square kilometre in 2023, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest protected areas recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 4,739 Square kilometre in 2023.
What is the lowest protected areas recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 4,370 Square kilometre in 2011.
How does Belgium rank for protected areas?
Belgium ranks 32nd out of 35 countries with data for 2023.
Is protected areas rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Protected areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Protected areas in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 25 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/protected-areas/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Protected areas
Unit
Square kilometre
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
36 places, 468 data points, 2011–2023
Last refreshed