New Zealand—Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas (%)
New Zealand's terrestrial and marine protected areas (%) was 30.6% in 2025, ranking #28 out of 213 countries. This represents a +0.0% change from 2024. Over the past 13 years, the highest recorded value was 30.6% (2018) and the lowest was 27.9% (2013). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30.6% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 30.6% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 30.6% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 30.6% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 30.6% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 30.6% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 30.6% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 30.6% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 30.5% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 30.5% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 30.5% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 30.5% | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 27.9% |
Top Countries — Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas (%)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monaco | 99.5% | 2025 |
| 2 | Palau | 98.0% | 2025 |
| 3 | New Caledonia | 96.0% | 2025 |
| 4 | St. Martin (French part) | 92.3% | 2025 |
| 5 | French Polynesia | 87.3% | 2025 |
| 6 | Bhutan | 51.6% | 2025 |
| 7 | Liechtenstein | 44.8% | 2025 |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 42.1% | 2025 |
| 9 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 42.0% | 2025 |
| 10 | Zambia | 41.3% | 2025 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Terrestrial protected areas are totally or partially protected areas of at least 1,000 hectares that are designated by national authorities as scientific reserves with limited public access, national parks, natural monuments, nature reserves or wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes, and areas managed mainly for sustainable use. Marine protected areas are areas of intertidal or subtidal terrain--and overlying water and associated flora and fauna and historical and cultural features--that have been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment. Sites protected under local or provincial law are excluded.
Methodology
Original contributors: Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM), UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), uri: https://www.protectedplanet.net/en, publisher: Protected Planet, date accessed: 20240516, date published: 202405; International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), uri: https://www.protectedplanet.net/en, publisher: Protected Planet, date accessed: 20240516
Unit
% of total territorial area