Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand: Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas was 19.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
19.3%
World rank
90th
of 197 countries
All-time high
19.3%
in 2020
All-time low
12.5%
in 1990
Years of data
6
1990–2025

Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia and New Zealand, 1990–2025

051015201990200720251990: 12.5 %2000: 14.9 %2010: 18.4 %2015: 19.2 %2020: 19.3 %2025: 19.3 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2025, proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia and New Zealand stood at 19.3%. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia and New Zealand peaked at 19.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12.5%, in 1990.

Australia and New Zealand ranks 90th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia and New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%) in Australia and New Zealand, 1990 to 2025.
Year % Change
1990 12.5%
2000 14.9% +19.3%
2010 18.4% +23.6%
2015 19.2% +4.4%
2020 19.3% +0.8%
2025 19.3% +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 12.5% 12.5% 12.5% 1
2000s 14.9% 14.9% 14.9% 1
2010s 18.8% 18.4% 19.2% 2
2020s 19.3% 19.3% 19.3% 2

Countries ranked near Australia and New Zealand

  1. 87 Ghana 20.3% compare
  2. 88 Puerto Rico 19.9% compare
  3. 89 Gabon 19.7% compare
  4. 91 Niger 19.3% compare
  5. 92 New Caledonia 19.1% compare
  6. 93 Belarus 19.0% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More environment data for Australia and New Zealand

All data for Australia and New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia and New Zealand?
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia and New Zealand was 19.3% in 2025, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 2020.
What is the lowest proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas recorded in Australia and New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 12.5% in 1990.
How does Australia and New Zealand rank for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas?
Australia and New Zealand ranks 90th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
Is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas rising or falling in Australia and New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Australia and New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia and New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-forest-area-within-legally-established-protected-areas-percent/australia-and-new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
232 places, 1,379 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed