Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia
Australia: Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas was 18.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Australia recorded 18.1% for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia peaked at 18.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 1990.
Australia ranks 85th of 168 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 13.4% | 13.4% | 13.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 17.4% | 17.0% | 17.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 18.1% | 18.1% | 18.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More environment data for Australia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -4.75 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -5.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.345 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.4 °C (2025)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import -1.48 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import 0.0001 t per person (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.91 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.11 Percentage change (2024)
- Other paper and paperboard, not elsewhere specified — Import value -4.99 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia?
- Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in Australia was 18.1% 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?
- The highest recorded value was 18.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 1990.
- How does Australia rank for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas?
- Australia ranks 85th out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).