Share of land area that is protected in Spain
Spain: Share of land area that is protected was 28.1% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of land area that is protected in Spain, 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
Spain recorded 28.1% for share of land area that is protected in 2025.
The figure is up 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of land area that is protected in Spain peaked at 29.8% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 27.9%, in 2014.
Spain ranks 47th of 213 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of land area that is protected in Spain, year by year
| Year | % of total land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 29.8% | — |
| 2014 | 27.9% | -6.4% |
| 2015 | 28.0% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 28.0% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 28.0% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 28.1% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 28.1% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 28.1% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 28.1% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 28.1% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 28.1% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 28.1% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 28.1% | +0.0% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 28.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 21.5%, 1.3× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Spain's 28.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 22.1%, 1.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 28.3% | 27.9% | 29.8% | 7 |
| 2020s | 28.1% | 28.1% | 28.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More reference data data for Spain
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.898 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.06 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 52.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.89 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of land area that is protected in Spain?
- Share of land area that is protected in Spain was 28.1% 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 29.8% in 2013.
- What is the lowest share of land area that is protected recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.9% in 2014.
- How does Spain rank for share of land area that is protected?
- Spain ranks 47th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of land area that is protected rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Spain 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.