Countries With the Highest Protected Land
Every country with a figure for protected land, ranked from highest to lowest. The top three are Seychelles (68.1%), New Caledonia (59.6%) and Venezuela, RB (56.8%). The middle country of the 213 has 17%.
What this measures
Terrestrial protected areas (% of total land area), in % of land area. Source: UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and IUCN. For this measure, higher is better.
From 2013 only.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2025–2025. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Protected land | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seychelles | 68.1% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 2 | New Caledonia | 59.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 3 | Venezuela, RB | 56.8% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 4 | Bhutan | 51.6% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 5 | Liechtenstein | 44.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 44.3% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 7 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 43.5% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 8 | Guinea | 42.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 9 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 42% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 10 | Greenland | 41.9% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 11 | Zambia | 41.3% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 12 | Slovenia | 40.4% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 13 | Brunei Darussalam | 39.9% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 14 | Namibia | 39.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 15 | Tanzania | 39.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 16 | Cambodia | 39.8% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 17 | Poland | 39.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 18 | Germany | 39.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 19 | Luxembourg | 39.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 20 | Armenia | 38.9% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 21 | Cyprus | 38.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 22 | Croatia | 38.4% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 23 | Slovak Republic | 37.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 24 | Belize | 37.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 25 | Congo, Rep. | 36.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 26 | Benin | 36.1% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 27 | Greece | 35% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 28 | Bahamas, The | 34.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 29 | Comoros | 33.7% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 30 | New Zealand | 33.4% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 31 | Sao Tome and Principe | 31.7% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 32 | Panama | 31.4% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 33 | Palau | 31.4% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 34 | Bolivia | 30.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 35 | Sri Lanka | 30.8% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 36 | Brazil | 30.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 37 | Trinidad and Tobago | 30.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 38 | Japan | 29.7% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 39 | Austria | 29.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 40 | Mozambique | 29.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 41 | North Macedonia | 29% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 42 | Malta | 29% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 43 | Oman | 28.9% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 44 | France | 28.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 45 | United Kingdom | 28.4% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 46 | Zimbabwe | 28.3% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 47 | Spain | 28.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 48 | Togo | 27.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 49 | Botswana | 27.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 50 | Israel | 27.6% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 51 | Senegal | 27.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 52 | Andorra | 27.3% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 53 | Gibraltar | 27% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 54 | Aruba | 26.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 55 | Costa Rica | 26.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 56 | Dominican Republic | 26.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 57 | Guinea-Bissau | 26.2% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 58 | Romania | 24.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 59 | Ecuador | 23.8% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 60 | Albania | 23.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 61 | Nepal | 23.6% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 62 | Lesotho | 23.4% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 63 | Malawi | 23.1% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 64 | Honduras | 23% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 65 | Portugal | 23% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 66 | Cote d'Ivoire | 22.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 67 | Kiribati | 22.9% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 68 | Netherlands | 22.9% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 69 | Georgia | 22.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 70 | Gabon | 22.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 71 | Tajikistan | 22.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 72 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 22.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 73 | Hungary | 22.3% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 74 | Montenegro | 22.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 75 | Azerbaijan | 22.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 76 | Peru | 22.1% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 77 | Australia | 22% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 78 | Czechia | 21.9% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 79 | Chile | 21.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 80 | Estonia | 21.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 81 | Italy | 21.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 82 | Dominica | 21.4% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 83 | Nicaragua | 21.2% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 84 | Niger | 21% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 85 | Chad | 21% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 86 | Iceland | 20.9% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 87 | Monaco | 20.9% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 88 | Tuvalu | 20.2% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 89 | Guatemala | 20.1% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 90 | Jamaica | 19.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 91 | Mongolia | 19.8% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 92 | United Arab Emirates | 19.2% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 93 | Pakistan | 19.1% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 94 | Equatorial Guinea | 19% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 95 | Lao PDR | 18.8% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 96 | Latvia | 18.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 97 | Saudi Arabia | 18.5% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 98 | Thailand | 18.4% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 99 | St. Lucia | 18.2% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 100 | Lithuania | 18% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 101 | Norway | 17.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 102 | Korea, Rep. | 17.7% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 103 | Cabo Verde | 17.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 104 | Colombia | 17.2% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 105 | Kuwait | 17.1% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 106 | Ukraine | 17.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 107 | Ethiopia | 17% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 108 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 16.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 109 | Burkina Faso | 16.8% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 110 | Antigua and Barbuda | 16.5% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 111 | Curacao | 16.5% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 112 | American Samoa | 16.4% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 113 | Belgium | 16.4% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 114 | Denmark | 16.4% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 115 | Marshall Islands | 16.1% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 116 | Timor-Leste | 16.1% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 117 | Uganda | 16.1% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 118 | Philippines | 16% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 119 | Sweden | 15.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 120 | China | 15.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 121 | Cuba | 15.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 122 | Qatar | 15.6% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 123 | South Sudan | 15.4% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 124 | Ghana | 15.3% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 125 | Mexico | 15.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 126 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 14.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 127 | Paraguay | 14.9% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 128 | Central African Republic | 14.8% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 129 | Suriname | 14.8% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 130 | Ireland | 14.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 131 | Uzbekistan | 14.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 132 | Serbia | 14% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 133 | Finland | 13.9% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 134 | Kenya | 13.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 135 | Nigeria | 13.9% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 136 | Malaysia | 13.3% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 137 | Tonga | 13.3% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 138 | Virgin Islands (U.S.) | 13.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 139 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 13.1% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 140 | Lebanon | 13% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 141 | Canada | 12.9% | 2025 | North America |
| 142 | United States | 12.9% | 2025 | North America |
| 143 | Madagascar | 12.8% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 144 | Sierra Leone | 12.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 145 | Switzerland | 12.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 146 | Indonesia | 12% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 147 | Bahrain | 11.7% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 148 | Moldova | 11.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 149 | Russian Federation | 11.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 150 | Cameroon | 11% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 151 | Angola | 10.8% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 152 | British Virgin Islands | 10.5% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 153 | Kazakhstan | 10.1% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 154 | West Bank and Gaza | 10% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 155 | South Africa | 9.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 156 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9.5% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 157 | St. Martin (French part) | 9.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 158 | Belarus | 9.2% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 159 | Rwanda | 9.1% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 160 | Argentina | 8.8% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 161 | Cayman Islands | 8.8% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 162 | Grenada | 8.8% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 163 | Haiti | 8.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 164 | Guyana | 8.4% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 165 | El Salvador | 8.3% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 166 | Tunisia | 7.9% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 167 | Samoa | 7.9% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 168 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 7.8% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 169 | Gambia, The | 7.7% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 170 | India | 7.7% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 171 | Burundi | 7.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 172 | Viet Nam | 7.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 173 | Mali | 7.5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 174 | Turkiye | 7% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 175 | Kyrgyz Republic | 6.8% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 176 | Myanmar | 6.7% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 177 | Puerto Rico (US) | 6.6% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 178 | French Polynesia | 5.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 179 | Jordan | 5.4% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 180 | Mauritius | 5% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 181 | Vanuatu | 4.8% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 182 | Algeria | 4.7% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 183 | Isle of Man | 4.6% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 184 | Singapore | 4.6% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 185 | Turkmenistan | 4.3% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 186 | Bangladesh | 4.2% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 187 | Guam | 4.2% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 188 | Eswatini | 4.2% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 189 | Liberia | 4% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 190 | Fiji | 3.9% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 191 | Papua New Guinea | 3.7% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 192 | Afghanistan | 3.6% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 193 | Uruguay | 3.1% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 194 | Maldives | 3% | 2025 | South Asia |
| 195 | Northern Mariana Islands | 2.8% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 196 | Sudan | 2.8% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 197 | Faroe Islands | 2.4% | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 198 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 2.4% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 199 | Solomon Islands | 2.4% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 200 | Bermuda | 2.3% | 2025 | North America |
| 201 | Morocco | 2.1% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 202 | Djibouti | 1.6% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 203 | Iraq | 1.5% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 204 | Barbados | 1.1% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 205 | Yemen, Rep. | 1.1% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 206 | Syrian Arab Republic | 0.7% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 207 | Mauritania | 0.6% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 208 | Libya | 0.1% | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 209 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 0.1% | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 210 | Eritrea | 0% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 211 | Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 0% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 212 | Naoero | 0% | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 213 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 0% | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
More on protected land
- Countries With the Lowest Protected Land
- Protected land by country: trend over time and what it goes with
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A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.