Share of land area that is protected by country
Terrestrial protected areas are areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities in order to preserve their ecosystem services and cultural values.
Countries reporting
209
Highest
68.1%
Seychelles
Lowest
0.0%
Somalia
Median
16.9%
Years covered
13
2013–2025
Data points
2,746
What the numbers show
Share of land area that is protected is currently reported for 209 countries. The highest value is 68.1% in Seychelles; the lowest is 0.0% in Somalia.
The median across all reporting countries is 16.9%, and the mean is 18.6%.
Over the past decade 141 countries rose and 53 fell. The largest increase was in Lesotho (up 7,700.0%), and the largest decrease in Eritrea (down 100.0%).
Share of land area that is protected: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seychelles | 68.1% | 2025 | up 61.8% | rising |
| 2 | New Caledonia | 59.6% | 2025 | up 9.2% | rising |
| 3 | Venezuela | 56.8% | 2025 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 4 | Bhutan | 51.6% | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 44.3% | 2025 | up 9.1% | rising |
| 7 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 43.5% | 2025 | down 2.0% | flat |
| 8 | Guinea | 42.6% | 2025 | up 38.8% | rising |
| 9 | Hong Kong | 42.0% | 2025 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 10 | Greenland | 41.9% | 2025 | up 1.7% | flat |
| 11 | Zambia | 41.3% | 2025 | up 8.7% | rising |
| 12 | Slovenia | 40.4% | 2025 | down 24.6% | falling |
| 13 | Brunei | 39.9% | 2025 | down 14.9% | falling |
| 13 | Namibia | 39.9% | 2025 | up 5.3% | flat |
| 13 | Tanzania | 39.9% | 2025 | up 25.1% | rising |
| 16 | Cambodia | 39.8% | 2025 | up 53.1% | rising |
| 17 | Poland | 39.6% | 2025 | up 32.0% | rising |
| 18 | Germany | 39.2% | 2025 | up 4.8% | flat |
| 20 | Armenia | 38.9% | 2025 | up 68.4% | rising |
| 21 | Cyprus | 38.6% | 2025 | up 109.8% | rising |
| 22 | Croatia | 38.4% | 2025 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 23 | Slovakia | 37.5% | 2025 | up 1.9% | flat |
| 24 | Belize | 37.3% | 2025 | down 0.5% | flat |
| 25 | Congo | 36.6% | 2025 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 26 | Benin | 36.1% | 2025 | up 24.9% | rising |
| 27 | Greece | 35.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 28 | Bahamas | 34.6% | 2025 | up 10.9% | rising |
| 29 | Comoros | 33.7% | 2025 | up 230.4% | volatile |
| 30 | New Zealand | 33.4% | 2025 | up 2.8% | rising |
| 31 | Sao Tome and Principe | 31.7% | 2025 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 32 | Panama | 31.4% | 2025 | up 50.2% | rising |
| 32 | Palau | 31.4% | 2025 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 34 | Bolivia | 30.9% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 35 | Sri Lanka | 30.8% | 2025 | up 3.0% | rising |
| 36 | Brazil | 30.6% | 2025 | up 7.4% | rising |
| 36 | Trinidad and Tobago | 30.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 38 | Japan | 29.7% | 2025 | up 53.1% | rising |
| 39 | Austria | 29.6% | 2025 | up 4.2% | rising |
| 40 | Mozambique | 29.5% | 2025 | up 52.8% | rising |
| 41 | North Macedonia | 29.0% | 2025 | up 199.0% | rising |
| 43 | Oman | 28.9% | 2025 | up 1,011.5% | volatile |
| 44 | France | 28.8% | 2025 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 45 | United Kingdom | 28.4% | 2025 | down 1.0% | flat |
| 46 | Zimbabwe | 28.3% | 2025 | up 6.0% | flat |
| 47 | Spain | 28.1% | 2025 | up 0.4% | flat |
| 48 | Togo | 27.9% | 2025 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 49 | Botswana | 27.6% | 2025 | down 5.2% | flat |
| 49 | Israel | 27.6% | 2025 | up 38.7% | rising |
| 51 | Senegal | 27.5% | 2025 | up 9.1% | rising |
| 52 | Andorra | 27.3% | 2025 | up 29.4% | rising |
| 53 | Gibraltar | 27.0% | 2025 | down 16.7% | volatile |
| 54 | Aruba | 26.9% | 2025 | up 5,280.0% | volatile |
| 55 | Costa Rica | 26.6% | 2025 | down 3.6% | flat |
| 56 | Dominican Republic | 26.3% | 2025 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 57 | Guinea-Bissau | 26.2% | 2025 | up 61.7% | rising |
| 58 | Romania | 24.6% | 2025 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 59 | Ecuador | 23.8% | 2025 | up 19.0% | flat |
| 60 | Albania | 23.6% | 2025 | up 807.7% | rising |
| 60 | Nepal | 23.6% | 2025 | up 0.9% | rising |
| 62 | Lesotho | 23.4% | 2025 | up 7,700.0% | volatile |
| 63 | Malawi | 23.1% | 2025 | up 36.7% | rising |
| 64 | Honduras | 23.0% | 2025 | down 17.9% | falling |
| 64 | Portugal | 23.0% | 2025 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 66 | Cote d'Ivoire | 22.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 66 | Kiribati | 22.9% | 2025 | up 3.2% | flat |
| 66 | Netherlands | 22.9% | 2025 | up 102.7% | rising |
| 69 | Georgia | 22.8% | 2025 | up 174.7% | rising |
| 70 | Gabon | 22.6% | 2025 | up 12.4% | rising |
| 70 | Tajikistan | 22.6% | 2025 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 70 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 22.6% | 2025 | up 0.9% | rising |
| 73 | Hungary | 22.3% | 2025 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 74 | Montenegro | 22.2% | 2025 | up 441.5% | volatile |
| 75 | Azerbaijan | 22.1% | 2025 | up 116.7% | rising |
| 75 | Peru | 22.1% | 2025 | down 29.8% | falling |
| 77 | Australia | 22.0% | 2025 | up 49.7% | rising |
| 78 | Czechia | 21.9% | 2025 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 79 | Chile | 21.6% | 2025 | up 18.0% | rising |
| 79 | Estonia | 21.6% | 2025 | up 7.5% | rising |
| 81 | Italy | 21.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 82 | Dominica | 21.4% | 2025 | down 2.7% | flat |
| 83 | Nicaragua | 21.2% | 2025 | down 43.0% | falling |
| 84 | Niger | 21.0% | 2025 | up 21.4% | rising |
| 84 | Chad | 21.0% | 2025 | up 12.9% | rising |
| 86 | Iceland | 20.9% | 2025 | up 25.1% | rising |
| 86 | Monaco | 20.9% | 2025 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 88 | Tuvalu | 20.2% | 2025 | up 910.0% | volatile |
| 89 | Guatemala | 20.1% | 2025 | down 36.6% | falling |
| 90 | Jamaica | 19.9% | 2025 | up 25.2% | rising |
| 91 | Mongolia | 19.8% | 2025 | up 13.8% | rising |
| 92 | United Arab Emirates | 19.2% | 2025 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 93 | Pakistan | 19.1% | 2025 | up 55.3% | rising |
| 94 | Equatorial Guinea | 19.0% | 2025 | down 18.5% | falling |
| 95 | Laos | 18.8% | 2025 | up 12.6% | rising |
| 95 | Latvia | 18.8% | 2025 | up 3.3% | flat |
| 97 | Saudi Arabia | 18.5% | 2025 | down 40.9% | volatile |
| 98 | Thailand | 18.4% | 2025 | down 2.1% | flat |
| 99 | Saint Lucia | 18.2% | 2025 | down 2.7% | rising |
| 100 | Lithuania | 18.0% | 2025 | up 6.5% | flat |
| 101 | Norway | 17.8% | 2025 | up 5.3% | rising |
| 102 | South Korea | 17.7% | 2025 | up 132.9% | rising |
| 103 | Cape Verde | 17.6% | 2025 | up 576.9% | volatile |
| 104 | Colombia | 17.2% | 2025 | up 23.7% | falling |
| 105 | Kuwait | 17.1% | 2025 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 105 | Ukraine | 17.1% | 2025 | up 327.5% | volatile |
| 107 | Ethiopia | 17.0% | 2025 | down 8.1% | falling |
| 108 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 16.9% | 2025 | up 412.1% | volatile |
| 109 | Burkina Faso | 16.8% | 2025 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 110 | Antigua and Barbuda | 16.5% | 2025 | down 14.5% | rising |
| 110 | Curacao | 16.5% | 2025 | up 6.5% | rising |
| 112 | American Samoa | 16.4% | 2025 | up 310.0% | volatile |
| 112 | Belgium | 16.4% | 2025 | down 28.1% | falling |
| 112 | Denmark | 16.4% | 2025 | down 35.9% | falling |
| 115 | Marshall Islands | 16.1% | 2025 | up 35.3% | rising |
| 115 | East Timor | 16.1% | 2025 | up 85.1% | rising |
| 115 | Uganda | 16.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 118 | Philippines | 16.0% | 2025 | up 4.6% | rising |
| 119 | Sweden | 15.8% | 2025 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 120 | China | 15.6% | 2025 | down 8.8% | falling |
| 120 | Cuba | 15.6% | 2025 | up 25.8% | rising |
| 120 | Qatar | 15.6% | 2025 | up 550.0% | volatile |
| 123 | South Sudan | 15.4% | 2025 | down 0.6% | falling |
| 124 | Ghana | 15.3% | 2025 | up 1.3% | flat |
| 124 | Mexico | 15.3% | 2025 | up 11.7% | rising |
| 126 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 14.9% | 2025 | up 17.3% | rising |
| 126 | Paraguay | 14.9% | 2025 | up 129.2% | rising |
| 128 | Central African Republic | 14.8% | 2025 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 128 | Suriname | 14.8% | 2025 | up 2.1% | flat |
| 131 | Uzbekistan | 14.1% | 2025 | up 314.7% | volatile |
| 132 | Serbia | 14.0% | 2025 | up 109.0% | rising |
| 133 | Finland | 13.9% | 2025 | down 7.3% | falling |
| 133 | Kenya | 13.9% | 2025 | up 13.9% | flat |
| 133 | Nigeria | 13.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 136 | Malaysia | 13.3% | 2025 | down 30.4% | falling |
| 136 | Tonga | 13.3% | 2025 | down 16.4% | falling |
| 136 | United States Virgin Islands | 13.3% | 2025 | down 8.9% | falling |
| 139 | Egypt | 13.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 140 | Lebanon | 13.0% | 2025 | up 400.0% | volatile |
| 141 | Canada | 12.9% | 2025 | up 38.7% | rising |
| 141 | United States | 12.9% | 2025 | down 1.5% | flat |
| 143 | Madagascar | 12.8% | 2025 | up 156.0% | rising |
| 144 | Sierra Leone | 12.6% | 2025 | up 34.0% | rising |
| 145 | Switzerland | 12.5% | 2025 | up 28.9% | falling |
| 146 | Indonesia | 12.0% | 2025 | up 0.8% | falling |
| 147 | Bahrain | 11.7% | 2025 | up 77.3% | falling |
| 148 | Moldova | 11.5% | 2025 | up 173.8% | volatile |
| 148 | Russia | 11.5% | 2025 | up 18.6% | rising |
| 150 | Cameroon | 11.0% | 2025 | up 0.9% | flat |
| 151 | Angola | 10.8% | 2025 | up 54.3% | rising |
| 152 | British Virgin Islands | 10.5% | 2025 | up 19.3% | rising |
| 153 | Kazakhstan | 10.1% | 2025 | up 206.1% | volatile |
| 154 | Palestine | 10.0% | 2025 | up 19.0% | rising |
| 155 | South Africa | 9.6% | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 156 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9.5% | 2025 | up 533.3% | volatile |
| 157 | Saint Martin (French part) | 9.3% | 2025 | up 6.9% | flat |
| 158 | Belarus | 9.2% | 2025 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 159 | Rwanda | 9.1% | 2025 | up 3.4% | falling |
| 160 | Argentina | 8.8% | 2025 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 160 | Cayman Islands | 8.8% | 2025 | up 1.1% | rising |
| 160 | Grenada | 8.8% | 2025 | down 5.4% | rising |
| 163 | Haiti | 8.6% | 2025 | up 2,766.7% | volatile |
| 164 | Guyana | 8.4% | 2025 | down 3.4% | flat |
| 165 | El Salvador | 8.3% | 2025 | down 5.7% | flat |
| 166 | Tunisia | 7.9% | 2025 | up 46.3% | rising |
| 166 | Samoa | 7.9% | 2025 | up 16.2% | rising |
| 168 | Iran | 7.8% | 2025 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 169 | Gambia | 7.7% | 2025 | up 87.8% | rising |
| 169 | India | 7.7% | 2025 | up 28.3% | rising |
| 171 | Burundi | 7.6% | 2025 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 171 | Vietnam | 7.6% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 173 | Mali | 7.5% | 2025 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 174 | Turkey | 7.0% | 2025 | up 3,400.0% | volatile |
| 175 | Kyrgyzstan | 6.8% | 2025 | up 4.6% | flat |
| 176 | Myanmar | 6.7% | 2025 | down 5.6% | falling |
| 177 | Puerto Rico | 6.6% | 2025 | down 10.8% | falling |
| 178 | French Polynesia | 5.6% | 2025 | up 180.0% | rising |
| 179 | Jordan | 5.4% | 2025 | up 217.6% | rising |
| 180 | Mauritius | 5.0% | 2025 | up 6.4% | rising |
| 181 | Vanuatu | 4.8% | 2025 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 182 | Algeria | 4.7% | 2025 | down 37.3% | falling |
| 183 | Isle of Man | 4.6% | 2025 | up 1,433.3% | rising |
| 183 | Singapore | 4.6% | 2025 | down 17.9% | falling |
| 185 | Turkmenistan | 4.3% | 2025 | up 34.4% | rising |
| 186 | Bangladesh | 4.2% | 2025 | down 8.7% | falling |
| 186 | Guam | 4.2% | 2025 | down 80.8% | volatile |
| 186 | Eswatini | 4.2% | 2025 | up 5.0% | rising |
| 189 | Liberia | 4.0% | 2025 | up 60.0% | rising |
| 190 | Fiji | 3.9% | 2025 | down 27.8% | falling |
| 191 | Papua New Guinea | 3.7% | 2025 | up 19.4% | rising |
| 192 | Afghanistan | 3.6% | 2025 | up 800.0% | volatile |
| 193 | Uruguay | 3.1% | 2025 | up 14.8% | rising |
| 194 | Maldives | 3.0% | 2025 | up 172.7% | rising |
| 195 | Northern Mariana Islands | 2.8% | 2025 | down 63.2% | volatile |
| 195 | Sudan | 2.8% | 2025 | up 40.0% | rising |
| 197 | Faroe Islands | 2.4% | 2025 | up 4.3% | falling |
| 197 | North Korea | 2.4% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 197 | Solomon Islands | 2.4% | 2025 | up 9.1% | flat |
| 200 | Bermuda | 2.3% | 2025 | down 60.3% | volatile |
| 201 | Morocco | 2.1% | 2025 | down 93.2% | volatile |
| 202 | Djibouti | 1.6% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 203 | Iraq | 1.5% | 2025 | up 66.7% | rising |
| 204 | Barbados | 1.1% | 2025 | down 15.4% | rising |
| 204 | Yemen | 1.1% | 2025 | up 37.5% | rising |
| 206 | Syria | 0.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 207 | Mauritania | 0.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 208 | Libya | 0.1% | 2025 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 208 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 0.1% | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 210 | Eritrea | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 210 | Micronesia (country) | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
| 210 | Nauru | 0.0% | 2025 | — | flat |
| 210 | Somalia | 0.0% | 2025 | down 100.0% | volatile |
About this data
Terrestrial protected areas are areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities in order to preserve their ecosystem services and cultural values.