Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America
United States of America: Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas was 10.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
10.0%
World rank
136th
of 197 countries
All-time high
10.2%
in 2020
All-time low
5.8%
in 1990
Years of data
6
1990–2025
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America, 1990–2025
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
In 2025, proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America stood at 10.0%.
The figure is up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America peaked at 10.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 5.8%, in 1990.
United States of America ranks 136th of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.8% | — |
| 2000 | 6.7% | +15.9% |
| 2010 | 9.8% | +45.3% |
| 2015 | 9.6% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 10.2% | +6.6% |
| 2025 | 10.0% | -2.3% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 10.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 14.5%, 69% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.8% | 5.8% | 5.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 9.7% | 9.6% | 9.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.1% | 10.0% | 10.2% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 133 Botswana 10.9% compare
- 134 Angola 10.3% compare
- 135 Cyprus 10.1% compare
- 137 Canada 9.8% compare
- 138 Tajikistan 9.2% compare
- 139 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 9.2% compare
- 139 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 9.2% compare
More environment data for United States of America
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Cooling Degree Days, annual growth rate 1.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Heating Degree Days, gaps filled 6,193 (2024)
- Heating Degree Days, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Heating Degree Days, per capita 0 units per person (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.91 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.62 Percentage change (2024)
- Heating Degree Days 6,193 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 1,199 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America?
- Proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas in United States of America was 10.0% 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 2020.
- What is the lowest proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.8% in 1990.
- How does United States of America rank for proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas?
- United States of America ranks 136th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of forest area within legally established protected areas rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America 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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