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Protected Land 2022

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Protected Land by Country 2024

Many countries around the world have designated areas of land as protected, safeguarding them from development. These protected lands are valued for their natural beauty, ecological significance, or cultural importance. To preserve their integrity, human activities such as traffic and exploitation of natural resources are restricted through legal measures or long-term conservation management.

In the Seychelles, there are 51 protected areas, which encompass over 61% of the land area and 32.8% of the marine area. One notable protected area is the Aldabra Atoll, a sanctuary for 152,000 giant tortoises. Similarly, New Caledonia, located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, boasts 7,000 square miles of protected lands across 155 areas, including nature reserves, national parks, forest reserves, and botanical reserves.

Venezuela also has a significant portion of its territory designated as protected land. With 290 protected areas, these encompass over 56% of the country’s total land area and include national parks, natural monuments, forest reserves, and wildlife refuges. Luxembourg stands out in Europe, with 55.8% of its territory protected, including three nature parks and two Ramsar-recognized wetlands across its 200 regions.

In Asia, Bhutan has 22 protected areas covering about 49.67% of the country, featuring notable sites like the Royal Manas National Park and the Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve. Brunei Darussalam protects over 46% of its land area, primarily consisting of rainforests, across 56 different areas. The Turks and Caicos Islands, known for their stunning beaches, have 34 protected areas with restrictions on activities like shell collecting and fishing.

Hong Kong's approach to conservation includes 104 protected areas that cover 44,300 hectares, providing habitats for diverse species including endangered pangolins, birds, and insects. Greenland's vast protected lands include the Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest protected area in the world, as part of its 550,000-plus square miles of conservation land. Lastly, Slovenia has a comprehensive network of 2,270 protected areas, encompassing a national park, natural monuments, nature reserves, and landscape parks, highlighting the global effort to preserve natural and cultural heritage.

129 countries

Country
Protected Land 2022
Protected Land 2021
Protected Land 2020
Protected Land 2019
Protected Land 2018
Protected Land 2017
Protected Land 2016
Protected Land 2015
Martinique67.7%67.7%67.7%67.7%67.7%67.7%64%64%
Guadeloupe67%67%67%67%67%67%67%67%
New Caledonia66.6%66.6%66.6%66.6%63.4%63.4%63.4%63.4%
Reunion64%64%64%63.9%63.9%63.9%63.9%63.9%
Venezuela56.5%56.5%56.5%56.5%56.5%56.5%56.5%56.5%
Luxembourg55.3%55.3%54.5%53.8%53.7%51.1%50.7%45%
French Guiana52.3%52.3%52.3%52.3%52.3%52.3%52.2%52.2%
Brunei43.8%43.8%43.8%43.8%43.8%43.8%43.8%43.8%
Greenland41.4%41.4%41.4%41.4%41.4%41.4%41.4%41.4%
Bulgaria40.9%40.9%40.9%40.9%40.7%40.7%40.7%40.6%
Slovenia40.1%40.1%40.1%40.1%40.1%40.1%40.1%40.1%
Poland39.6%39.6%39.5%39.5%39.5%39.4%39.4%39.4%
Cambodia39.5%39.5%39.5%39.5%38.8%38.7%28.2%14.1%
Croatia37.7%37.7%37.5%37.5%37.4%37.4%37.4%37.4%
Cyprus37.6%37.6%37.6%37.6%37.1%37.1%37%35.1%
Germany37.5%37.5%37.5%36.6%35.9%35.4%35%34.1%
Slovakia37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%
Belize37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%37.3%
Bahamas35.3%35.3%35.3%35.3%35.3%35.3%35.3%35.3%
Greece34.9%34.9%34.9%34.9%34.9%34.9%34.9%34.9%
New Zealand33.3%33.3%33.3%33.3%33.3%33.2%33.2%33.2%
Panama30.8%30.8%30.8%30.8%29.8%29.8%29.5%29.5%
Japan30.5%30.5%30.4%30.4%30.3%30.1%29.7%29.3%
Brazil30.3%30.3%30.3%30.3%30.3%30%30%29.6%
Trinidad and Tobago30.3%30.3%30.3%30.3%30.3%30.3%30.3%30.3%
Bolivia30.1%30.1%30.1%30.1%30.1%30.1%30.1%30.1%
Malta29.8%29.8%29.8%29.8%29.7%29.7%29.7%29.3%
Turks and Caicos Islands29.7%29.7%29.7%29.7%29.7%29.7%29.7%29.7%
Austria29.4%29.4%29.1%28.9%28.2%28%28%27.5%
France28.2%28.2%27.9%27%25.9%24.3%23.9%23.3%
Spain28.1%28.1%28.1%28%28%28%27.7%27.6%
United Kingdom27.7%27.7%27.7%27.7%27.7%27.7%27.6%27.6%
Netherlands26.6%26.6%26.6%26.6%26.6%25.8%24%23.6%
Costa Rica26.3%26.3%26.3%26.3%26.2%26.2%26.2%26.2%
Dominican Republic26.2%26.2%26%26%26%26%26%26%
Romania24.3%24.3%24.3%24.3%24.3%24.2%24.2%24.1%
Armenia24.3%24.3%24.3%24.3%24.3%24.3%24.3%24.3%
Israel23.9%23.9%23.9%23.9%23.6%23.3%23%23%
Saint Kitts and Nevis23.9%23.9%23.9%23.9%23.9%23.9%23.9%16.7%
Cook Islands23.6%23.6%23.6%23.6%23.6%23.6%--
Honduras23.3%23.3%23.3%23.3%23.2%23.2%23.2%22.8%
Ecuador23.2%23.2%23.1%23%22.9%22.8%20.3%20.3%
Portugal22.7%22.7%22.7%22.7%22.7%22.7%22.7%22.7%
Hungary22.5%22.5%22.5%22.5%22.5%22.5%22.5%22.5%
Peru22.4%22.4%22.1%22.1%22%21.1%21.1%21%
Tajikistan21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%
Dominica21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%21.9%
Czech Republic21.8%21.8%21.8%21.7%21.7%21.3%20.7%20.5%
Italy21.7%21.7%21.7%21.7%20.9%20.3%19.1%18.3%
Nicaragua21.3%21.3%21.3%21.3%21.3%21.3%21.3%21.3%
Niue21.2%21.2%21.2%21.2%21.2%21.2%21.2%21.2%
Iceland20.6%20.6%20.4%20%20%20%20%19.9%
Chile20.5%20.4%20.4%20.4%16.7%16%16%16%
Australia20.3%20.3%20.3%19.3%19.2%19.1%18.8%18.1%
Estonia20.1%20.1%19.9%19.8%19.2%19.1%19%19%
Guatemala20%20%20%20%19.9%19.9%19.9%19.8%
Jamaica19.7%19.7%19.6%19.6%19.6%19.6%19.6%19.5%
Mayotte19.6%19.6%11.9%11.9%11.9%11.9%11.9%11.7%
Aruba19.5%19.5%19.5%19.5%19.5%19.5%19.5%19.5%
American Samoa19%19%19%19%19%19%19%19%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines18.8%18.8%18.8%18.8%18.8%18.8%18.8%18.8%
Laos18.6%18.6%18.6%17.6%13.7%13.7%13.7%13.7%
Thailand18.4%18.4%18.4%18.4%18.4%18.4%18.4%18.3%
Cayman Islands18.3%18.3%18.3%18.3%18.3%18.3%18.3%18.3%
Latvia18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%
Saint Lucia18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%18.1%
Norway17.7%17.7%17.6%17.5%17.4%17.2%17.1%17%
Lithuania17%17%17%17%16.9%16.9%16.9%16.9%
Antigua and Barbuda17%17%17%17%17%16.8%16.8%16.8%
United States Virgin Islands16.9%16.9%16.9%16.9%16.9%16.9%16.9%16.9%
Colombia16.4%16.4%16.4%16.3%16.2%15.5%15.3%15.2%
Philippines15.8%15.8%15.8%15.8%15.8%11.8%11.8%11.8%
Belgium15.5%15.5%15.4%15.4%14.8%14.7%14.7%9.1%
Denmark15.5%15.5%15.5%15.5%15.5%15.5%15.5%15.5%
Curacao15.4%15.4%15.4%15.4%15.4%15.4%15.4%15.4%
Sweden15.3%15.3%15.1%15.1%15%14.8%14.6%14.5%
Cuba15.2%15.2%15.2%15.2%15.2%15.2%15.2%15.2%
Mexico14.6%14.6%14.5%14.5%14.5%14.5%14.3%14.1%
Paraguay14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%
Ireland14.3%14.3%14.3%14.1%13.7%13.5%13.4%13.3%
Suriname14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%14.3%
Jersey13.9%13.9%13.9%13.9%13.9%13.9%13.9%13.9%
Finland13.3%13.3%13.3%13.2%13.2%13.2%13.1%13.1%
Anguilla13.3%13.3%13.3%13.3%13.3%13.3%13.3%13.3%
Ukraine13.2%13.2%13.2%13.2%13.2%13.2%13.2%13.2%
Malaysia13.2%13.2%13.2%13.2%13.2%13.2%13.2%13.1%
United States13%13%13%13%12.9%12.9%12.9%12.9%
Canada12.7%12.7%12.6%11.7%11.4%11%10.9%10.9%
Indonesia12.1%12.1%12.1%12.1%12.1%12.1%12.1%12.1%
Switzerland12.1%12.1%12.1%12%12%10%9.8%9.8%
Montserrat11.3%11.3%11.3%11.3%11.3%11.3%11.3%11.3%
Georgia11%11%9.2%9.2%9.2%9.2%9.2%9.2%
Moldova10.8%10.8%10.8%10.8%10.8%10.8%10.8%10.8%
Kazakhstan10%10%10%10%10%9.9%9.9%9.9%
Azerbaijan10%10%10%10%10%10%10%10%
Grenada9.7%9.7%9.7%9.7%9.7%9.7%9.7%9.7%
South Africa9.3%9.3%9.2%9.1%8.9%8.7%8.6%7.8%
El Salvador9.1%9.1%9.1%9.1%9.1%9.1%9.1%9.1%
Haiti8.7%8.7%7.2%7.2%7.2%7.2%5.2%5.2%
Argentina8.6%8.6%8.4%8.4%8.4%8.4%8.3%8.3%
Guyana8.5%8.5%8.5%8.5%8.5%8.5%8.5%8.5%
Tokelau8%8%8%8%8%8%8%8%
Vietnam7.4%7.4%7.4%7.4%7.4%7.4%7.4%7.4%
Isle of Man6.9%6.9%6.9%6.9%6.9%3.7%3.7%3.7%
Puerto Rico6.7%6.7%6.7%6.7%6.7%6.7%6.7%6.7%
Myanmar6.5%6.5%6.5%6.3%6.3%6.2%6.2%6.1%
Kyrgyzstan6.5%6.5%6.5%6.5%6.5%6.5%6.5%6.5%
Singapore5.8%5.8%5.8%5.8%5.8%5.8%5.8%5.8%
Northern Mariana Islands5.6%5.6%5.6%5.6%5.6%5.6%5.6%5.6%
Uzbekistan5.5%5.5%5.5%5.5%5.5%5.4%5.4%4%
Saudi Arabia4.8%4.8%4.8%4.8%4.8%4.8%4.8%4.8%
Guam4.4%4.4%4.4%4.4%4.4%4.4%4.4%4.4%
Saint Pierre and Miquelon4.3%4.3%4.3%4.3%4.3%4.3%4.3%4.3%
Uruguay3.7%3.7%3.7%3.7%3.6%3.6%3.6%3.6%
Turkmenistan3.3%3.3%3.3%3.3%3.3%3.3%3.3%3.3%
French Polynesia2.4%2.4%2.4%2.4%2.4%2.4%2.4%2.4%
Guernsey2.2%2.2%2.2%2.2%2.2%2.2%2.2%2.2%
Faroe Islands1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%
Saint Martin1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%
China1.7%1.7%1.7%1.7%1.7%1.4%0.9%0.9%
Barbados1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%
British Virgin Islands1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%1.5%
Bermuda1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%
Sint Maarten0.7%0.7%0.7%0.7%0.7%0.7%0.7%0.7%
India0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%
Saint Barthelemy0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%0.6%
Falkland Islands0.5%0.5%0.5%0.5%0.5%0.5%0.5%0.5%
Turkey0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%
Wallis and Futuna0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%

143 Rows

Country
2010
2000
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
American Samoa18.9018.2018.200000
Anguilla13.301.2000000
Antigua and Barbuda16.506.105.500000
Argentina7.906.404.302.5010.900.90
Armenia22.9018.7087.901.601.600
Aruba19.5019.500.400.400.300.300.30
Australia11.30752.7010.500.50
Austria25.9021.3015.908.506.8060.60
Azerbaijan1054.504.203.900.900.60
Bahamas9.106.800.200.200.2000
Barbados1.501.401.401.400.400.100.10
Belgium7.203.903.300.10000
Belize36.7035.4026.201613.6013.501.40
Bermuda110.700.200.1000
Bolivia25.3021.4010.706.702.801.301.30
Bonaire9.309.308.407.304.200.100.10
Bouvet Island100.10100.10100.10100.10000
Brazil29.5014.706.801.800.300.200.10
British Indian Ocean Territory100.1034.9000000
British Virgin Islands1.501.501.401.400.5000
Brunei43.8043.8036.5022.3022.3022.3020.40
Bulgaria40.404.902.301.801.400.800.70
Cambodia1413.9000000
Canada9.907.505.804.703.702.502.30
Cayman Islands18.3017.9014.500.30000
Chile15.7014.6013.8011.7011.504.602.10
China0.800.200.100000
Christmas Islands49.3049.3049.300000
Cocos (Keeling) Islands0000000
Colombia14.6011.10113.6010.100.10
Cook Islands0000000
Costa Rica26.2024.701911.5030.100
Croatia10.7010.207.702.301.9010.80
Cuba13.900.2000000
Curacao8.108.108.106.401.701.701.70
Cyprus16.707.306.106666
Czech Republic19.7015.5013.3011.7050.700.10
Denmark14.8014.407.60410.400.20
Dominica21.9021.9016.8016.600.600.600
Dominican Republic24.805.205.201.301.3000
Ecuador19.6016.306.604.601.501.501.50
El Salvador6.800.1000000
Estonia18.603.9000000
Falkland Islands0.500.400.400.400.300.300.30
Faroe Islands0000000
Finland10.7010.104.101.6011.400
France2014.9010.808.203.300.100.10
French Guiana52.105.6000000
French Polynesia2.400.900.900.90000
French Southern and Antarctic Lands100000000
Georgia7.703.601.601.601.501.501.30
Germany32.9020.7012.606.803.901.400.60
Gibraltar0000000
Greece30.7012.208.904.200.500.400.40
Greenland41.3041.1041.1040.60000
Grenada9.609.6096.606.606.606.60
Guadeloupe6759.9059.600000
Guam4.404.403.603.402.402.402.40
Guatemala19.60159.102.402.302.300
Guernsey2.20000000
Guyana52.100.300.300.300.300.30
Haiti2.102.102.101.201.2000
Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands10010000000
Honduras21.7020.6016.407.70000
Hungary22.309.306.103.500.100.100
Iceland19.804.604.502.100.200.200.20
India0.300.100.100000
Indonesia1211.601111111111
Ireland13.3010.109.509.409.409.409.40
Isle of Man3.500.800.100.100.100.100.10
Israel22.6015.4012.301.900.9000
Italy17.3011.505.802.201.401.401.40
Jamaica19.3018.8010.7010.709.409.108.70
Japan27.2025.3024.702412.308.805.80
Jersey13.9013.6012.8012.8012.8012.8012.80
Kazakhstan9.301.300.700.600.400.100.10
Kyrgyzstan6.506.505.905.503.703.603.20
Laos12.3011.1000000
Latvia18.1014.706.604.9010.900.30
Lithuania16.9013.407.507.306.706.606.50
Luxembourg44.9033.2024.8024.6024.6010.4010.40
Malaysia9.305.104.102.702.502.202.20
Malta25.5012.200.300.200.200.200.20
Martinique63.7063.6063.5063.30000
Mayotte11.700.7000000
Mexico13.707.202.300.300.200.200.20
Moldova10.809.108.708.60888
Montserrat0000000
Myanmar61.600.900.600.200.200.20
Netherlands15.7013.501.300.500.300.300.30
New Caledonia61.406.206.205.5021.100.70
New Zealand31.7027.7023.80146.504.502.60
Nicaragua21.2013.801.500000
Niue21.2021.2000000
Norfolk Island0000000
Northern Mariana Islands5.605.405.205.205.105.105.10
Norway16.3013.9013.6013.4013.3013.3013.30
Panama2923.6020.5012.400.600.500
Paraguay14.103.602.502.400.4000
Peru18.3085.7051.1011
Philippines11.608.606.905.304.800.700.70
Pitcairn99.1099.1099.100000
Poland38.7029.7013.6020.600.400.10
Portugal21.9012.307.304.201.401.401.40
Puerto Rico6.706.106.105.905.805.805.80
Reunion63.905.403.300.20000
Romania19.905.3020.300.100.100.10
Saint Barthelemy0.600.5000000
Saint Helena20.7018.2000000
Saint Kitts and Nevis15.900.200.200000
Saint Lucia18.1015.601514.8014.8014.8014.80
Saint Martin1.700.8000000
Saint Pierre and Miquelon4.30000000
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines18.8018.8016.2016161616
Saudi Arabia4.804.703.200.400.400.400.40
Singapore5.805.705.700000
Sint Maarten0000000
Slovakia34.7015.508.8053.403.303.30
Slovenia39.308.407.1054.304.204.20
South Africa7.406.605.704.803.9032.70
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands0000000
South Korea14.808.706.3041.9000
Spain23.9015.907.501.401.301.201.10
Suriname14.3014.303.201.801.100.800.80
Svalbard and Jan Mayen4.20000000
Sweden14.2012.301.6010.300.100.10
Switzerland9.806.302.101.901.901.901.90
Tajikistan1918.502.602.3010.600.30
Thailand18.2016.6011.806.301.100.200
Tokelau8800000
Trinidad and Tobago30.3029.4028.5028.1028.102827.30
Turkey0.200.2000000
Turkmenistan3.303.103.102.200.700.600.50
Turks and Caicos Islands29.7029.7020.700.900.500.500.50
Ukraine13.2013.2012.6012.2011.9011.8011.80
United Kingdom27.4023.7021.5017.3011.308.400.30
United States12.8012.5011.4010.705.805.104
United States Virgin Islands16.901312.1012.1012.1012.1010.40
Uruguay32.402.400000
Uzbekistan3.9031.700.500.100.100.10
Venezuela56.5056.3044.8037.402010.20
Vietnam5.901.900.800.200.1000
Wallis and Futuna0.200.200.200.200.200.200.20

Protected Land by Country 2024

Which country has the most protected land?

The Seychelles has the highest percentage of its land under protection. Of the total land area, 61.52% is completely or partially protected.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Protected Areas - OECD

Sources