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Protected land areas
What this indicator measures
The share of the country's territory set aside as national parks, nature reserves or other protected zones.
How to read this?
The higher it is, the more the country protects its natural spaces.
Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest
In brief
Protected land areas: across 210 countries and territories, values range from 0 % (Somalia) to 68.1 % (Seychelles), with a world median of 17.1 %. Data: 2025. The top 10% of countries exceed 38.4 %, while the bottom 10% stay below 3.6 %. By continent, the median is highest in Europe (22 %) and lowest in Oceania (7.9 %).
Median by continent
- Europe 22 % (44)
- South America 19.4 % (12)
- North America 16.7 % (34)
- Asia 16 % (47)
- Africa 15.3 % (51)
- Oceania 7.9 % (19)
Why this indicator matters
This indicator shows how much room a country leaves for nature. It lets you compare efforts to protect forests, mountains, savannas or wetlands. It is a useful reference when talking about biodiversity and ecotourism.
What makes this indicator vary
Political choices matter a lot: creating national parks, reserves or conservation areas. Terrain, population density and farming pressure also play a role. A sparsely populated country, or one rich in wilderness, can more easily protect large areas.
Reading precautions
It measures the area designated, not the quality of protection on the ground. An area can be protected on paper and barely monitored. Designation rules also vary from one country to another.
Full ranking
ranked from highest to lowest
| Rank | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1er | 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 68.1 % | 2025 |
| 2e | 🇳🇨 New Caledonia | 59.6 % | 2025 |
| 3e | 🇻🇪 Venezuela | 56.8 % | 2025 |
| 4e | 🇧🇹 Bhutan | 51.6 % | 2025 |
| 5e | 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 44.8 % | 2025 |
| 6e | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 44.3 % | 2025 |
| 7e | 🇹🇨 Turks & Caicos Islands | 43.5 % | 2025 |
| 8e | 🇬🇳 Guinea | 42.6 % | 2025 |
| 9e | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China | 42 % | 2025 |
| 10e | 🇬🇱 Greenland | 41.9 % | 2025 |
| 11e | 🇿🇲 Zambia | 41.3 % | 2025 |
| 12e | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 40.4 % | 2025 |
| 13e | 🇧🇳 Brunei | 39.9 % | 2025 |
| 13e | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 39.9 % | 2025 |
| 13e | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 39.9 % | 2025 |
| 16e | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 39.8 % | 2025 |
| 17e | 🇵🇱 Poland | 39.6 % | 2025 |
| 18e | 🇩🇪 Germany | 39.2 % | 2025 |
| 19e | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 39.1 % | 2025 |
| 20e | 🇦🇲 Armenia | 38.9 % | 2025 |
| 21e | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 38.6 % | 2025 |
| 22e | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 38.4 % | 2025 |
| 23e | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 37.5 % | 2025 |
| 24e | 🇧🇿 Belize | 37.3 % | 2025 |
| 25e | 🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville | 36.6 % | 2025 |
| 26e | 🇧🇯 Benin | 36.1 % | 2025 |
| 27e | 🇬🇷 Greece | 35 % | 2025 |
| 28e | 🇧🇸 Bahamas | 34.6 % | 2025 |
| 29e | 🇰🇲 Comoros | 33.7 % | 2025 |
| 30e | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 33.4 % | 2025 |
| 31e | 🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe | 31.7 % | 2025 |
| 32e | 🇵🇦 Panama | 31.4 % | 2025 |
| 32e | 🇵🇼 Palau | 31.4 % | 2025 |
| 34e | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 30.9 % | 2025 |
| 35e | 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | 30.8 % | 2025 |
| 36e | 🇧🇷 Brazil | 30.6 % | 2025 |
| 36e | 🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago | 30.6 % | 2025 |
| 38e | 🇯🇵 Japan | 29.7 % | 2025 |
| 39e | 🇦🇹 Austria | 29.6 % | 2025 |
| 40e | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 29.5 % | 2025 |
| 41e | 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | 29 % | 2025 |
| 41e | 🇲🇹 Malta | 29 % | 2025 |
| 43e | 🇴🇲 Oman | 28.9 % | 2025 |
| 44e | 🇫🇷 France | 28.8 % | 2025 |
| 45e | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 28.4 % | 2025 |
| 46e | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 28.3 % | 2025 |
| 47e | 🇪🇸 Spain | 28.1 % | 2025 |
| 48e | 🇹🇬 Togo | 27.9 % | 2025 |
| 49e | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 27.6 % | 2025 |
| 49e | 🇮🇱 Israel | 27.6 % | 2025 |
| 51e | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 27.5 % | 2025 |
| 52e | 🇦🇩 Andorra | 27.3 % | 2025 |
| 53e | 🇦🇼 Aruba | 26.9 % | 2025 |
| 54e | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 26.6 % | 2025 |
| 55e | 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | 26.3 % | 2025 |
| 56e | 🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau | 26.2 % | 2025 |
| 57e | 🇷🇴 Romania | 24.6 % | 2025 |
| 58e | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | 23.8 % | 2025 |
| 59e | 🇦🇱 Albania | 23.6 % | 2025 |
| 59e | 🇳🇵 Nepal | 23.6 % | 2025 |
| 61e | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 23.4 % | 2025 |
| 62e | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 23.1 % | 2025 |
| 63e | 🇭🇳 Honduras | 23 % | 2025 |
| 63e | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 23 % | 2025 |
| 65e | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 22.9 % | 2025 |
| 65e | 🇰🇮 Kiribati | 22.9 % | 2025 |
| 65e | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 22.9 % | 2025 |
| 68e | 🇬🇪 Georgia | 22.8 % | 2025 |
| 69e | 🇬🇦 Gabon | 22.6 % | 2025 |
| 69e | 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 22.6 % | 2025 |
| 69e | 🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines | 22.6 % | 2025 |
| 72e | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 22.3 % | 2025 |
| 73e | 🇲🇪 Montenegro | 22.2 % | 2025 |
| 74e | 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 22.1 % | 2025 |
| 74e | 🇵🇪 Peru | 22.1 % | 2025 |
| 76e | 🇦🇺 Australia | 22 % | 2025 |
| 77e | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 21.9 % | 2025 |
| 78e | 🇨🇱 Chile | 21.6 % | 2025 |
| 78e | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 21.6 % | 2025 |
| 80e | 🇮🇹 Italy | 21.5 % | 2025 |
| 81e | 🇩🇲 Dominica | 21.4 % | 2025 |
| 82e | 🇳🇮 Nicaragua | 21.2 % | 2025 |
| 83e | 🇳🇪 Niger | 21 % | 2025 |
| 83e | 🇹🇩 Chad | 21 % | 2025 |
| 85e | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 20.9 % | 2025 |
| 85e | 🇲🇨 Monaco | 20.9 % | 2025 |
| 87e | 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | 20.2 % | 2025 |
| 88e | 🇬🇹 Guatemala | 20.1 % | 2025 |
| 89e | 🇯🇲 Jamaica | 19.9 % | 2025 |
| 90e | 🇲🇳 Mongolia | 19.8 % | 2025 |
| 91e | 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | 19.2 % | 2025 |
| 92e | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 19.1 % | 2025 |
| 93e | 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea | 19 % | 2025 |
| 94e | 🇱🇦 Laos | 18.8 % | 2025 |
| 94e | 🇱🇻 Latvia | 18.8 % | 2025 |
| 96e | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 18.5 % | 2025 |
| 97e | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 18.4 % | 2025 |
| 98e | 🇱🇨 St. Lucia | 18.2 % | 2025 |
| 99e | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 18 % | 2025 |
| 100e | 🇳🇴 Norway | 17.8 % | 2025 |
| 101e | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 17.7 % | 2025 |
| 102e | 🇨🇻 Cape Verde | 17.6 % | 2025 |
| 103e | 🇨🇴 Colombia | 17.2 % | 2025 |
| 104e | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | 17.1 % | 2025 |
| 104e | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 17.1 % | 2025 |
| 106e | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | 17 % | 2025 |
| 107e | 🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis | 16.9 % | 2025 |
| 108e | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 16.8 % | 2025 |
| 109e | 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda | 16.5 % | 2025 |
| 109e | 🇨🇼 Curaçao | 16.5 % | 2025 |
| 111e | 🇦🇸 American Samoa | 16.4 % | 2025 |
| 111e | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 16.4 % | 2025 |
| 111e | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 16.4 % | 2025 |
| 114e | 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands | 16.1 % | 2025 |
| 114e | 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | 16.1 % | 2025 |
| 114e | 🇺🇬 Uganda | 16.1 % | 2025 |
| 117e | 🇵🇭 Philippines | 16 % | 2025 |
| 118e | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 15.8 % | 2025 |
| 119e | 🇨🇳 China | 15.6 % | 2025 |
| 119e | 🇨🇺 Cuba | 15.6 % | 2025 |
| 119e | 🇶🇦 Qatar | 15.6 % | 2025 |
| 122e | 🇬🇭 Ghana | 15.3 % | 2025 |
| 122e | 🇲🇽 Mexico | 15.3 % | 2025 |
| 124e | 🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa | 14.9 % | 2025 |
| 124e | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 14.9 % | 2025 |
| 126e | 🇨🇫 Central African Republic | 14.8 % | 2025 |
| 126e | 🇸🇷 Suriname | 14.8 % | 2025 |
| 128e | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 14.2 % | 2025 |
| 129e | 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 14.1 % | 2025 |
| 130e | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 14 % | 2025 |
| 131e | 🇫🇮 Finland | 13.9 % | 2025 |
| 131e | 🇰🇪 Kenya | 13.9 % | 2025 |
| 131e | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 13.9 % | 2025 |
| 134e | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 13.3 % | 2025 |
| 134e | 🇹🇴 Tonga | 13.3 % | 2025 |
| 134e | 🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands | 13.3 % | 2025 |
| 137e | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 13.1 % | 2025 |
| 138e | 🇱🇧 Lebanon | 13 % | 2025 |
| 139e | 🇨🇦 Canada | 12.9 % | 2025 |
| 139e | 🇺🇸 United States | 12.9 % | 2025 |
| 141e | 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 12.8 % | 2025 |
| 142e | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone | 12.6 % | 2025 |
| 143e | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 12.5 % | 2025 |
| 144e | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 12 % | 2025 |
| 145e | 🇧🇭 Bahrain | 11.7 % | 2025 |
| 146e | 🇲🇩 Moldova | 11.5 % | 2025 |
| 146e | 🇷🇺 Russia | 11.5 % | 2025 |
| 148e | 🇨🇲 Cameroon | 11 % | 2025 |
| 149e | 🇦🇴 Angola | 10.8 % | 2025 |
| 150e | 🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands | 10.5 % | 2025 |
| 151e | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | 10.1 % | 2025 |
| 152e | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 9.6 % | 2025 |
| 153e | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 9.5 % | 2025 |
| 154e | 🇲🇫 St. Martin | 9.3 % | 2025 |
| 155e | 🇧🇾 Belarus | 9.2 % | 2025 |
| 156e | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 9.1 % | 2025 |
| 157e | 🇦🇷 Argentina | 8.8 % | 2025 |
| 157e | 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | 8.8 % | 2025 |
| 157e | 🇬🇩 Grenada | 8.8 % | 2025 |
| 160e | 🇭🇹 Haiti | 8.6 % | 2025 |
| 161e | 🇬🇾 Guyana | 8.4 % | 2025 |
| 162e | 🇸🇻 El Salvador | 8.3 % | 2025 |
| 163e | 🇹🇳 Tunisia | 7.9 % | 2025 |
| 163e | 🇼🇸 Samoa | 7.9 % | 2025 |
| 165e | 🇮🇷 Iran | 7.8 % | 2025 |
| 166e | 🇬🇲 Gambia | 7.7 % | 2025 |
| 166e | 🇮🇳 India | 7.7 % | 2025 |
| 168e | 🇧🇮 Burundi | 7.6 % | 2025 |
| 168e | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | 7.6 % | 2025 |
| 170e | 🇲🇱 Mali | 7.5 % | 2025 |
| 171e | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 7 % | 2025 |
| 172e | 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | 6.8 % | 2025 |
| 173e | 🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma) | 6.7 % | 2025 |
| 174e | 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico | 6.6 % | 2025 |
| 175e | 🇵🇫 French Polynesia | 5.6 % | 2025 |
| 176e | 🇯🇴 Jordan | 5.4 % | 2025 |
| 177e | 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 5 % | 2025 |
| 178e | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | 4.8 % | 2025 |
| 179e | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 4.7 % | 2025 |
| 180e | 🇮🇲 Isle of Man | 4.6 % | 2025 |
| 180e | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 4.6 % | 2025 |
| 182e | 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | 4.3 % | 2025 |
| 183e | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | 4.2 % | 2025 |
| 183e | 🇬🇺 Guam | 4.2 % | 2025 |
| 183e | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 4.2 % | 2025 |
| 186e | 🇱🇷 Liberia | 4 % | 2025 |
| 187e | 🇫🇯 Fiji | 3.9 % | 2025 |
| 188e | 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea | 3.7 % | 2025 |
| 189e | 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 3.6 % | 2025 |
| 190e | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 3.1 % | 2025 |
| 191e | 🇲🇻 Maldives | 3 % | 2025 |
| 192e | 🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands | 2.8 % | 2025 |
| 192e | 🇸🇩 Sudan | 2.8 % | 2025 |
| 194e | 🇫🇴 Faroe Islands | 2.4 % | 2025 |
| 194e | 🇰🇵 North Korea | 2.4 % | 2025 |
| 194e | 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands | 2.4 % | 2025 |
| 197e | 🇧🇲 Bermuda | 2.3 % | 2025 |
| 198e | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 2.1 % | 2025 |
| 199e | 🇩🇯 Djibouti | 1.6 % | 2025 |
| 200e | 🇮🇶 Iraq | 1.5 % | 2025 |
| 201e | 🇧🇧 Barbados | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 201e | 🇾🇪 Yemen | 1.1 % | 2025 |
| 203e | 🇸🇾 Syria | 0.7 % | 2025 |
| 204e | 🇲🇷 Mauritania | 0.6 % | 2025 |
| 205e | 🇱🇾 Libya | 0.1 % | 2025 |
| 205e | 🇸🇽 Sint Maarten | 0.1 % | 2025 |
| 207e | 🇪🇷 Eritrea | 0 % | 2025 |
| 207e | 🇫🇲 Micronesia | 0 % | 2025 |
| 207e | 🇳🇷 Nauru | 0 % | 2025 |
| 207e | 🇸🇴 Somalia | 0 % | 2025 |
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest value for "Protected land areas"?
The highest value is in Seychelles, at 68.1 % (2025).
Which country has the lowest value for "Protected land areas"?
The lowest value is in Somalia, at 0 % (2025).
What is the world median value of "Protected land areas"?
The world median is 17.1 %, calculated across 210 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.
What is the value of "Protected land areas" for France?
France scores 28.8 % (2025), ranking 44 out of 210 countries (ranked from highest to lowest).
Where does the "Protected land areas" data come from?
It comes from Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (ER.LND.PTLD.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.
What is a protected land area?
It is an area of land officially recognized to protect nature: a national park, nature reserve or similar space. Rules there limit construction, farming, hunting or the use of resources.
Does a high value mean nature is well preserved?
Not necessarily. The figure shows the share of territory designated, not the real state of the habitats. You should also look at monitoring resources, permitted activities and the quality of the ecosystems concerned.
Source and update
Source : Banque mondiale – Indicateurs du développement dans le monde (ER.LND.PTLD.ZS). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.
Indicators in the same category : Land & Nature
- Forest coverThe share of the country's territory covered by forests.
- Agricultural landThe share of the territory used to grow crops or raise animals (fields, orchards, pastures).
- Arable landThe share of the territory where crops can be grown (grains, vegetables and so on), not counting pastures and orchards.