South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Marine protected areas

South Africa
79,144 sq. km
in 2010
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
942,188 sq. km
in 2010
South Africa rank
6th
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank
3rd

Marine protected areas over time

  • South Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
0200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1.0M199020002010

How they compare

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) currently reports 942,188 sq. km against 79,144 sq. km in South Africa, a difference of 863,044 sq. km.

That makes Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)'s figure about 11.9 times South Africa's.

Across all 21 years both countries report, Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 6th and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 3rd of 37 countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) Difference Ahead
1990s 8,304 sq. km 573,436 sq. km 565,131 sq. km Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
2000s 63,450 sq. km 857,049 sq. km 793,598 sq. km Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)
2010s 79,144 sq. km 942,188 sq. km 863,044 sq. km Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher marine protected areas, South Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income), at 942,188 sq. km against 79,144 sq. km in South Africa as of 2010.
What is the difference in marine protected areas between South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
863,044 sq. km, with Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income)?
21 years are reported by both, from 1990 to 2010.
How do South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) rank globally for marine protected areas?
South Africa ranks 6th and Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income) ranks 3rd of 37 countries.
Where does this data come from?
United Nations Environmental Program and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, as compiled by the World Resources Institute, based on data from national authorities, national legislation and inter, published as Marine protected areas (sq. km). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Marine protected areas. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Environmental Program and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, as compiled by the World Resources Institute, based on data from national authorities, national legislation and inter. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/marine-protected-areas-sq-km/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/

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<a href="https://environment.statizoid.com/compare/marine-protected-areas-sq-km/south-africa/sub-saharan-africa-excluding-high-income/">South Africa vs Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding high income): Marine protected areas</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Marine protected areas (sq. km)
Unit
sq. km
Source
United Nations Environmental Program and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, as compiled by the World Resources Institute, based on data from national authorities, national legislation and inter
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
43 places, 899 data points, 1990–2010
Last refreshed

Marine protected areas are areas of intertidal or subtidal terrain--and overlying water and associated flora and fauna and historical and cultural features--that have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment.