Share of land area that is protected in Germany
Germany: Share of land area that is protected was 39.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of land area that is protected in Germany, 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 total land area.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of land area that is protected in Germany is 39.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of land area that is protected in Germany peaked at 39.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 37.4%, in 2014.
Germany ranks 18th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Share of land area that is protected in Germany, year by year
| Year | % of total land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 37.9% | — |
| 2014 | 37.4% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 37.4% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 37.8% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 37.8% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 37.8% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 37.4% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 37.8% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 37.5% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 37.6% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 37.6% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 39.3% | +4.5% |
| 2025 | 39.2% | -0.3% |
Germany compared with similar countries
- Germany's 39.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 21.5%, 1.8× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Germany's 39.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 22.1%, 1.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 37.6% | 37.4% | 37.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 38.2% | 37.5% | 39.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Germany
More reference data data for Germany
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 16.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 15.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 9.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 80.38 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 10.56 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of land area that is protected in Germany?
- Share of land area that is protected in Germany was 39.2% 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 land area that is protected recorded in Germany?
- The highest recorded value was 39.3% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of land area that is protected recorded in Germany?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.4% in 2014.
- How does Germany rank for share of land area that is protected?
- Germany ranks 18th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of land area that is protected rising or falling in Germany?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Germany 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 land area that is protected. 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).
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.