Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected was 91.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
91.0%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
30th
of 164 countries
All-time high
91.0%
in 2010
All-time low
89.9%
in 2000
Years of data
26
2000–2025

Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2025

0204060801002000201220252000: 89.9 %2001: 89.9 %2002: 89.9 %2003: 89.9 %2004: 89.9 %2005: 89.9 %2006: 89.9 %2007: 89.9 %2008: 89.9 %2009: 89.9 %2010: 91 %2011: 91 %2012: 91 %2013: 91 %2014: 91 %2015: 91 %2016: 91 %2017: 91 %2018: 91 %2019: 91 %2020: 91 %2021: 91 %2022: 91 %2023: 91 %2024: 91 %2025: 91 %

Source: BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 91.0%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 91.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 89.9%, in 2000.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 30th of 164 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2025.
Year % Change
2000 89.9%
2001 89.9% +0.0%
2002 89.9% +0.0%
2003 89.9% +0.0%
2004 89.9% +0.0%
2005 89.9% +0.0%
2006 89.9% +0.0%
2007 89.9% +0.0%
2008 89.9% +0.0%
2009 89.9% +0.0%
2010 91.0% +1.3%
2011 91.0% +0.0%
2012 91.0% +0.0%
2013 91.0% +0.0%
2014 91.0% +0.0%
2015 91.0% +0.0%
2016 91.0% +0.0%
2017 91.0% +0.0%
2018 91.0% +0.0%
2019 91.0% +0.0%
2020 91.0% +0.0%
2021 91.0% +0.0%
2022 91.0% +0.0%
2023 91.0% +0.0%
2024 91.0% +0.0%
2025 91.0% +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 89.9% 89.9% 89.9% 10
2010s 91.0% 91.0% 91.0% 10
2020s 91.0% 91.0% 91.0% 6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 27 Estonia 92.9% compare
  2. 28 Sao Tome and Principe 92.8% compare
  3. 29 Czechia 92.3% compare
  4. 31 Greece 90.4% compare
  5. 32 Guinea 90.4% compare
  6. 33 Mali 89.5% compare

See the full ranking of 164 places →

More environment data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 91.0% in 2025, according to BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 91.0% in 2010.
What is the lowest share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 89.9% in 2000.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 30th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
Is share of freshwater key biodiversity areas that are protected rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-important-sites-for-freshwater-biodiversity-covered-by-protected-areas/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected
Unit
%
Source
BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
164 places, 4,264 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed

Average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by protected areas (%).