Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United States
United States: Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected was 38.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United States, 2000–2024
Source: BirdLife International, IUCN and UNEP-WCMC – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in United States is 38.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in United States peaked at 38.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 34.0%, in 2000.
That places United States 144th out of 238 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.4% | 34.0% | 36.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.1% | 37.1% | 38.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.6% | 38.6% | 38.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More environment data for United States
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF 5,913 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF per capita 17.39 t CO2e/capita (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture 257.35 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) 9.47 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) 418.87 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Industrial Combustion (Energy) 1.54 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions (total) excluding LULUCF 843.36 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Power Industry (Energy) 2 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Transport (Energy) 3.59 Mt CO2e (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Waste 149.52 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in United States?
- Share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in United States was 38.6% 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 38.6% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.0% in 2000.
- How does United States rank for share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected?
- United States ranks 144th out of 238 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 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
Average proportion of Terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by protected areas (%)