Terrestrial protected areas in China
China: Terrestrial protected areas was 15.6 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
15.6
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
120th
of 213 countries
All-time high
17.1
in 2014
All-time low
15.6
in 2018
Years of data
13
2013–2025
Terrestrial protected areas in China, 2013–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for terrestrial protected areas in China is 15.6, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, terrestrial protected areas in China peaked at 17.1 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 15.6, in 2018.
China ranks 120th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 13 years of available data.
Terrestrial protected areas in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 17 | — |
| 2014 | 17.1 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 17.1 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 17.1 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 17.1 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 15.6 | -8.8% |
| 2019 | 15.6 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 15.6 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 15.6 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 15.6 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 15.6 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 15.6 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 15.6 | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 15.6 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.6, 1.0× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 15.6 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.8, 99% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 16.66 | 15.6 | 17.1 | 7 |
| 2020s | 15.6 | 15.6 | 15.6 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 118 Philippines 16 compare
- 119 Sweden 15.8 compare
- 120 Cuba 15.6 compare
- 120 Qatar 15.6 compare
- 123 South Sudan 15.4 compare
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is terrestrial protected areas in China?
- Terrestrial protected areas in China was 15.6 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest terrestrial protected areas recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 17.1 in 2014.
- What is the lowest terrestrial protected areas recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.6 in 2018.
- How does China rank for terrestrial protected areas?
- China ranks 120th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is terrestrial protected areas rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Terrestrial protected areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).