Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%) by country
Countries reporting
191
Highest
100.0%
Saudi Arabia
Lowest
0.1%
Northern Mariana Islands
Median
18.3%
Years covered
36
1990–2025
Data points
1,379
What the numbers show
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%) is currently reported for 191 countries. The highest value is 100.0% in Saudi Arabia; the lowest is 0.1% in Northern Mariana Islands.
The median across all reporting countries is 18.3%, and the mean is 24.2%.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 833.
Over the past decade 70 countries rose and 23 fell. The largest increase was in Sierra Leone (up 348.7%), and the largest decrease in Cote d'Ivoire (down 46.7%).
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | 100.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Norfolk Island | 100.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 3 | Uzbekistan | 99.7% | 2025 | up 12.4% | rising |
| 4 | Cook Islands | 95.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Faroe Islands | 87.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 6 | Zambia | 82.5% | 2025 | up 18.7% | rising |
| 7 | Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 78.3% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 8 | Reunion | 73.0% | 2025 | down 7.8% | volatile |
| 8 | Réunion | 73.0% | 2025 | down 7.8% | volatile |
| 10 | Sri Lanka | 69.5% | 2025 | up 17.4% | rising |
| 11 | Pitcairn | 66.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | 59.5% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 13 | Nepal | 59.3% | 2025 | up 8.8% | rising |
| 14 | Indonesia | 54.5% | 2025 | down 0.0% | rising |
| 15 | Belize | 54.5% | 2025 | down 0.7% | flat |
| 16 | Guinea | 54.4% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 17 | Slovakia | 54.2% | 2025 | up 3.6% | volatile |
| 18 | Uganda | 53.9% | 2025 | up 26.5% | falling |
| 19 | Sao Tome and Principe | 53.6% | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 20 | Guatemala | 50.3% | 2025 | down 2.6% | falling |
| 21 | Kenya | 49.7% | 2025 | down 2.2% | flat |
| 22 | Cabo Verde | 48.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 23 | Mozambique | 47.1% | 2025 | up 13.5% | rising |
| 24 | Montserrat | 46.7% | 2025 | down 2.6% | volatile |
| 25 | Rwanda | 45.8% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Chad | 45.6% | 2025 | up 28.7% | rising |
| 27 | Croatia | 45.5% | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 28 | Hungary | 42.5% | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 29 | Thailand | 41.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 30 | Burundi | 41.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 30 | Bhutan | 41.1% | 2025 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 32 | Sierra Leone | 40.6% | 2025 | up 348.7% | volatile |
| 33 | Spain | 40.2% | 2020 | up 1.4% | volatile |
| 34 | Bahrain | 39.4% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 35 | Mauritius | 38.7% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 36 | Turkey | 37.8% | 2025 | up 13.0% | rising |
| 36 | Türkiye | 37.8% | 2025 | up 13.0% | rising |
| 38 | Romania | 37.8% | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 39 | Dominica | 37.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 40 | Slovenia | 36.3% | 2025 | up 76.4% | volatile |
| 41 | New Zealand | 36.2% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 42 | Benin | 36.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 43 | Kazakhstan | 35.7% | 2025 | up 9.4% | volatile |
| 44 | Cuba | 35.6% | 2025 | up 93.3% | volatile |
| 45 | Syria | 35.5% | 2025 | up 0.7% | flat |
| 45 | Syrian Arab Republic | 35.5% | 2025 | up 0.7% | flat |
| 47 | Dominican Republic | 35.2% | 2025 | up 3.2% | flat |
| 48 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 35.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 49 | Cambodia | 34.8% | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 50 | United Republic of Tanzania | 34.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 51 | Azerbaijan | 34.4% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 52 | Madagascar | 34.4% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 53 | Poland | 33.9% | 2025 | up 0.8% | volatile |
| 54 | Lithuania | 32.7% | 2025 | up 55.4% | rising |
| 55 | Saint Lucia | 32.6% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 56 | Italy | 31.8% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 57 | Guadeloupe | 31.6% | 2025 | up 0.8% | flat |
| 58 | Liechtenstein | 31.5% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 59 | Malawi | 30.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 60 | Guinea-Bissau | 30.4% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | French Guiana | 30.0% | 2025 | down 1.6% | rising |
| 62 | Caribbean | 29.9% | 2025 | up 37.2% | rising |
| 63 | Georgia | 29.4% | 2025 | up 233.4% | volatile |
| 64 | Malaysia | 29.1% | 2025 | up 14.5% | rising |
| 65 | Germany | 28.9% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 66 | Belgium | 26.6% | 2025 | up 1.6% | volatile |
| 67 | Ecuador | 25.8% | 2025 | down 1.6% | rising |
| 68 | Laos | 25.7% | 2025 | down 1.6% | falling |
| 68 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 25.7% | 2025 | down 1.6% | falling |
| 70 | Martinique | 25.6% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 71 | Seychelles | 24.4% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 72 | Chile | 23.9% | 2025 | up 16.0% | rising |
| 73 | Equatorial Guinea | 23.7% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 74 | Philippines | 23.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 75 | Russia | 23.4% | 2025 | up 6.6% | rising |
| 75 | Russian Federation | 23.4% | 2025 | up 6.6% | rising |
| 77 | Jamaica | 22.9% | 2025 | up 2.3% | flat |
| 78 | Estonia | 22.7% | 2025 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 79 | Moldova | 22.4% | 2025 | up 14.1% | rising |
| 79 | Republic of Moldova | 22.4% | 2025 | up 14.1% | rising |
| 81 | Nigeria | 22.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 82 | Albania | 21.7% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 83 | Zimbabwe | 21.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 84 | Colombia | 21.0% | 2025 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 84 | Mongolia | 21.0% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 86 | Namibia | 20.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 87 | Singapore | 20.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 88 | Ghana | 20.3% | 2025 | down 7.6% | flat |
| 89 | Puerto Rico | 19.9% | 2025 | up 44.9% | rising |
| 90 | Gabon | 19.7% | 2025 | down 5.2% | rising |
| 91 | Australia and New Zealand | 19.3% | 2025 | up 0.8% | rising |
| 92 | Niger | 19.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 93 | New Caledonia | 19.1% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 94 | Belarus | 19.0% | 2025 | up 47.3% | rising |
| 95 | India | 18.4% | 2025 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 96 | Latvia | 18.3% | 2025 | up 14.5% | falling |
| 97 | Cameroon | 18.2% | 2025 | down 4.7% | flat |
| 97 | Israel | 18.2% | 2025 | down 16.7% | rising |
| 99 | Australia | 18.1% | 2025 | up 0.9% | rising |
| 100 | Ethiopia | 17.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 101 | Serbia | 17.2% | 2025 | up 5.8% | rising |
| 102 | Bangladesh | 16.7% | 2025 | up 18.5% | rising |
| 103 | Myanmar | 16.6% | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 104 | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 16.2% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 105 | American Samoa | 16.0% | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 106 | Djibouti | 15.9% | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 107 | Cote d'Ivoire | 15.9% | 2025 | down 46.7% | falling |
| 107 | Côte d'Ivoire | 15.9% | 2025 | down 46.7% | falling |
| 109 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 15.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 110 | South Africa | 15.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 111 | Vietnam | 15.6% | 2025 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 111 | Viet Nam | 15.6% | 2025 | up 4.3% | rising |
| 113 | Bulgaria | 15.6% | 2025 | down 15.4% | rising |
| 114 | Finland | 14.8% | 2025 | up 6.0% | rising |
| 115 | Lesotho | 14.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 116 | China | 14.5% | 2025 | up 6.4% | rising |
| 117 | Czechia | 14.3% | 2025 | down 5.5% | rising |
| 118 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 14.1% | 2025 | up 4.7% | rising |
| 119 | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 14.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 120 | Polynesia | 14.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 121 | Mexico | 13.6% | 2025 | up 10.9% | rising |
| 122 | Denmark | 13.2% | 2025 | up 96.7% | volatile |
| 123 | Grenada | 13.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 124 | Congo | 13.0% | 2025 | up 5.1% | rising |
| 125 | Iraq | 12.8% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 12.7% | 2025 | up 1.5% | flat |
| 127 | Cayman Islands | 12.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 128 | Bahamas | 11.8% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Senegal | 11.8% | 2025 | up 0.1% | rising |
| 130 | Suriname | 11.7% | 2025 | down 7.8% | flat |
| 131 | Sudan | 11.4% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 132 | Burkina Faso | 11.3% | 2025 | down 3.4% | falling |
| 133 | Saint Martin (French Part) | 11.3% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 134 | Botswana | 10.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 135 | Angola | 10.3% | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 136 | Cyprus | 10.1% | 2025 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 137 | United States | 10.0% | 2025 | up 4.1% | rising |
| 138 | Canada | 9.8% | 2025 | up 14.7% | rising |
| 139 | Tajikistan | 9.2% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 140 | United Kingdom | 9.2% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 140 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 9.2% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 142 | Brazil | 9.1% | 2025 | up 7.0% | rising |
| 142 | Tunisia | 9.1% | 2025 | up 0.7% | rising |
| 144 | Haiti | 8.9% | 2025 | up 3.4% | flat |
| 145 | Micronesia | 8.8% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 146 | Togo | 8.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 147 | Trinidad and Tobago | 8.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 148 | Sweden | 8.4% | 2025 | up 10.8% | rising |
| 149 | Gambia | 8.2% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 150 | Aruba | 8.2% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 151 | Algeria | 7.7% | 2025 | up 8.1% | rising |
| 152 | Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | 7.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 153 | Kyrgyzstan | 7.5% | 2025 | down 2.1% | rising |
| 154 | South Korea | 7.2% | 2025 | up 2.3% | rising |
| 154 | Republic of Korea | 7.2% | 2025 | up 2.3% | rising |
| 156 | Andorra | 7.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Mali | 6.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 158 | Lebanon | 6.0% | 2025 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 159 | Guyana | 5.9% | 2025 | up 0.2% | volatile |
| 160 | Yemen | 5.8% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Norway | 5.8% | 2025 | up 38.0% | rising |
| 162 | Eritrea | 5.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 163 | Eswatini | 5.1% | 2025 | up 43.7% | volatile |
| 164 | Brunei | 5.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 164 | Brunei Darussalam | 5.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 166 | French Polynesia | 5.0% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 167 | Libya | 4.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Jordan | 4.8% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 169 | Morocco | 4.6% | 2025 | down 0.2% | volatile |
| 170 | Melanesia | 4.3% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 171 | United Arab Emirates | 4.2% | 2025 | up 32.9% | rising |
| 172 | Papua New Guinea | 4.0% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Bermuda | 3.9% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | South Sudan | 3.8% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 175 | Afghanistan | 3.8% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 176 | Argentina | 3.8% | 2025 | up 19.0% | rising |
| 177 | Qatar | 3.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 178 | Uruguay | 3.0% | 2025 | up 28.8% | volatile |
| 179 | British Virgin Islands | 3.0% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 180 | Iceland | 3.0% | 2025 | up 160.0% | volatile |
| 181 | Guam | 1.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 182 | Marshall Islands | 1.5% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 183 | Kuwait | 1.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 184 | Central African Republic | 1.2% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Maldives | 0.8% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 186 | Egypt | 0.7% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 187 | Somalia | 0.6% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Vanuatu | 0.3% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 189 | Mauritania | 0.3% | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 190 | Anguilla | 0.2% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 191 | Northern Mariana Islands | 0.1% | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- Central Asia 56.9%
- Eastern Africa 42.5%
- Western Asia 40.3%
- South-Eastern Asia 38.9%
- Southern Europe 35.7%
- Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) 30.7%
- Western Europe 29.7%
- Asia 26.5%
- Eastern and South-Eastern Asia 25.9%
- Central and Southern Asia 24.9%
- Northern Africa and Western Asia 24.9%
- Least Developed Countries (LDCs) 24.1%
- Eastern Europe 23.6%
- Europe 23.2%
- Sub-Saharan Africa 23.1%
- Africa 22.5%
- Southern Asia 22.1%
- Western Africa 20.7%
- World 19.3%
- Europe and Northern America 17.7%
- Oceania 16.3%
- Central America 16.2%
- Latin America and the Caribbean 15.3%
- South America 15.0%
- Southern Africa 14.8%
- Eastern Asia 14.6%
- Americas 12.8%
- Middle Africa 12.7%
- Northern Europe 11.6%
- Small island developing States (SIDS) 10.2%
- United States of America 10.0%
- Northern Africa 9.9%
- Northern America 9.9%
- Oceania (exc. Australia and New Zealand) 4.3%