As of September 2024, only 11 countries have reached the 30 percent of ocean protection target. The 30X30 target, 30 percent of the land and ocean protected by 2030, was agreed upon by the attending countries of the COP15 in 2022. In terms of ocean protection. Palau is the country with the most of its exclusive economic zone protected, with around 77.6 percent.
Values are for areas in designated MPAs, regardless of the level of protection.
Supplementary notes
The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of a country extends 200 nautical miles from the coastline, or to the mid-point between coastlines where the EEZ of different countries would otherwise overlap.
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National Geographic, & UC Santa Barbara. (October 10, 2024). Share of marine protected areas in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) area of selected countries as of September 2024 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 21, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334647/share-of-marine-protected-areas-in-eez-of-selected-countries/
National Geographic, und UC Santa Barbara. "Share of marine protected areas in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) area of selected countries as of September 2024." Chart. October 10, 2024. Statista. Accessed May 21, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334647/share-of-marine-protected-areas-in-eez-of-selected-countries/
National Geographic, UC Santa Barbara. (2024). Share of marine protected areas in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) area of selected countries as of September 2024. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 21, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334647/share-of-marine-protected-areas-in-eez-of-selected-countries/
National Geographic, and UC Santa Barbara. "Share of Marine Protected Areas in The Exclusive Economic Zone (Eez) Area of selected Countries as of September 2024." Statista, Statista Inc., 10 Oct 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334647/share-of-marine-protected-areas-in-eez-of-selected-countries/
National Geographic & UC Santa Barbara, Share of marine protected areas in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) area of selected countries as of September 2024 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334647/share-of-marine-protected-areas-in-eez-of-selected-countries/ (last visited May 21, 2025)
Share of marine protected areas in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) area of selected countries as of September 2024 [Graph], National Geographic, & UC Santa Barbara, October 10, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1334647/share-of-marine-protected-areas-in-eez-of-selected-countries/