Protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas in United States
United States: Protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas was 34.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas in United States, 2000–2025
Source: BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas in United States is 34.3%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas in United States peaked at 34.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 32.8%, in 2000.
United States ranks 117th of 190 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 32.8% | — |
| 2001 | 32.9% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 32.9% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 33.1% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 33.1% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 33.2% | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 33.5% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 33.7% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 33.8% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 33.8% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 33.9% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 34.0% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 34.2% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 34.3% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 34.3% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 34.3% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 34.3% | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 34.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 49.1%, 70% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.3% | 32.8% | 33.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.2% | 33.9% | 34.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.3% | 34.3% | 34.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More environment data for United States
- 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)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 3.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.624 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas in United States?
- Protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas in United States was 34.3% in 2025, according to BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 34.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.8% in 2000.
- How does United States rank for protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas?
- United States ranks 117th out of 190 countries with data for 2025.
- Is protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Protected area coverage of marine key biodiversity areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average proportion of Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by protected areas (%).