As of September 2024, only ** countries have reached the ** percent of ocean protection target. The ***** target, ** 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 **** 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 July 12, 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 July 12, 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: July 12, 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 July 12, 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/
