Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United States
United States: Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected was 38.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected 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 share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in United States is 38.4%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected in United States peaked at 38.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 33.5%, in 2000.
That places United States 147th out of 240 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Share of terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas that are protected in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.5% | — |
| 2001 | 34.0% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 34.3% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 34.6% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 34.8% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 35.1% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 35.6% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 36.1% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 36.4% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 36.7% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 36.9% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 37.3% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 37.6% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 37.8% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 38.0% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 38.1% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 38.3% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 38.3% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 38.3% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 38.4% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 38.4% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 38.4% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 38.4% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 38.4% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 38.4% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 38.4% | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 38.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 52.5%, 73% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.1% | 33.5% | 36.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.9% | 36.9% | 38.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.4% | 38.4% | 38.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 145 Costa Rica 39.5% compare
- 146 Egypt 38.8% compare
- 148 Switzerland 37.7% compare
- 149 Bangladesh 37.5% compare
- 150 Rwanda 37.1% compare
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)
- 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)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (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 38.4% in 2025, 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 38.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.5% in 2000.
- How does United States rank for share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected?
- United States ranks 147th out of 240 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of terrestrial key biodiversity areas that are protected rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. 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 — 26 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 (%).