Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected was 86.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
86.8%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
19th
of 238 countries
All-time high
86.8%
in 2019
All-time low
82.1%
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United Kingdom, 2000–2024

0204060802000201220242000: 82.1 %2001: 82.4 %2002: 82.6 %2003: 83.5 %2004: 83.5 %2005: 84.4 %2006: 84.6 %2007: 84.6 %2008: 84.7 %2009: 84.7 %2010: 85.3 %2011: 85.9 %2012: 85.9 %2013: 86 %2014: 86.3 %2015: 86.3 %2016: 86.3 %2017: 86.5 %2018: 86.8 %2019: 86.8 %2020: 86.8 %2021: 86.8 %2022: 86.8 %2023: 86.8 %2024: 86.8 %

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

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 86.8% for share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in United Kingdom peaked at 86.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 82.1%, in 2000.

United Kingdom ranks 19th of 238 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 83.7% 82.1% 84.7% 10
2010s 86.2% 85.3% 86.8% 10
2020s 86.8% 86.8% 86.8% 5

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 16 French Southern Territories 90.5% compare
  2. 17 Denmark 87.3% compare
  3. 17 Greece 87.3% compare
  4. 20 Sao Tome and Principe 86.3% compare
  5. 21 Slovakia 85.7% compare
  6. 22 Zimbabwe 85.1% compare

See the full ranking of 238 places →

More environment data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in United Kingdom?
Share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in United Kingdom was 86.8% in 2024, according to BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 86.8% in 2019.
What is the lowest share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 82.1% in 2000.
How does United Kingdom rank for share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected?
United Kingdom ranks 19th out of 238 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom 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 terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator
Share of terrestrial 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
238 places, 5,950 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

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