Share of land area that is protected in United States
United States: Share of land area that is protected was 12.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Share of land area that is protected in United States, 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 United States is 12.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of land area that is protected in United States peaked at 13.6% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 2020.
United States ranks 141st of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13.2% | 13.0% | 13.6% | 7 |
| 2020s | 12.8% | 11.8% | 13.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 139 Egypt 13.1% compare
- 140 Lebanon 13.0% compare
- 141 Canada 12.9% compare
- 143 Madagascar 12.8% compare
- 144 Sierra Leone 12.6% compare
More reference data data for United States
- Spring temperature anomalies 2.51 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.5014 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month 0.0594 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.8696 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.9189 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 143.86 2010 = 100 (2024)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of land area that is protected in United States?
- Share of land area that is protected in United States was 12.9% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 13.6% in 2013.
- What is the lowest share of land area that is protected recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 2020.
- How does United States rank for share of land area that is protected?
- United States ranks 141st out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of land area that is protected rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States 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.
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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.