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