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.
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 20.4 | 19.8 | 19.2 | 26.2 | 30.7 | 45.0 | 48.9 | 50.4 | 49.8 | 49.8 | 49.8 | 49.8 |
| United Kingdom | 5.7 | 16.5 | 12.5 | 21.6 | 29.0 | 28.9 | 29.2 | 44.2 | 44.1 | 44.1 | 44.1 | 46.8 |
| United States | 13.3 | 10.8 | 27.7 | 41.1 | 41.0 | 41.1 | 41.1 | 37.4 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 19.1 | 19.0 |
| China | 3.4 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 4.8 |
| Russian Federation | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 |