Statistikk innhold

Statistics about

Protected areas

The statistics apply to protected areas and give figures on the extent of areas that are protected and the number of areas. It includes land, marine and freshwater areas, protected in accordance with the provisions of the Nature Diversity Act, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and the Jan Mayen Act. The statistics have the categories: National park, Nature reserve, Landscape protected area, Marine protected area and Other protection.

Updated: 8 April 2025
Next update: Not yet determined

Selected figures from this statistics

  • Protected areas - Nature Diversity Act. The mainland of Norway. By amount, proportions and count, 31 December
    Protected areas - Nature Diversity Act. The mainland of Norway. By amount, proportions and count, 31 December
    2024
    Protected area total (km²)Protected land area (km²)Proportion of protected land area (per cent)Protected sea area (km²)Proportion of protected sea area - territorial waters (per cent)Number of protected areas
    All protection purposes1 64 05757 38717.76 6704.63 355
    National parks33 16231 7089.81 4541.041
    Nature reserves9 6788 0742.51 6041.12 646
    Landscape protection areas18 29217 2215.31 0710.7195
    Marine protected area2 55300.02 5531.818
    Other protections6423920.12490.2455
    1Some protected areas belong to several protection categories. Total protected area is therefore smaller than summation of protected area for all categories.
    Explanation of symbols
  • Areas protected under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. By amount, count and proportions, 31 December
    Areas protected under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. By amount, count and proportions, 31 December
    2024
    Svalbard
    Protected area total (km²)Protected area on land (km²)Proportion protected land area (per cent)Protected area at sea (km²)Proportion protected sea area (per cent)Number of protected areas total
    All protection purposes1 120 73041 55868.979 17287.730
    National parks37 24216 34227.120 90023.27
    Nature reserves83 47225 20341.858 26964.622
    Landscape protected areas000.000.00
    Marine protected area000.000.00
    Other protections17140.030.01
    1Some protected areas belong to several protection categories. Total protected area is therefore smaller than summation of protected area for all categories.
    Explanation of symbols
  • Areas protected under the Jan Mayen Act. By amount, count and proportions, 31 December
    Areas protected under the Jan Mayen Act. By amount, count and proportions, 31 December
    2024
    Jan Mayen
    Protected area total (km²)Protected area on land (km²)Proportion protected land area (per cent)Protected area at sea (km²)Proportion protected sea area (per cent)Number of protected areas total
    All protection purposes1 4 68337599.44 6831001
    Nature reserves4 68337599.44 6831001
    1Some protected areas belong to several protection categories. Total protected area can therefore be smaller than summation of protected area for all categories.
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The information under «About the statistics» was last updated 18 December 2023.

A protected area is an area protected by the Nature Conservation Act, or the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and the Jan Mayen Act.

Since 2006 areas protected according to the Wildlife act and the Act relating to Salmonids and Fresh-water Fish are also included.

The variables are number and area of protected areas according to delineations in protected area maps and administrative boundaries.

For 2008 areas protected under the Cultural Heritage Act are also included.

Since 2014: areas protected according to the Cultural Heritage Act are not included in the statistics.

From 2018: Statistics expanded to include protected sea areas, protected through the Nature Conservation Act, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and the Jan Mayen Act. Sea area is defined as all "salt water" (not land or freshwater) within Norway's territotorial waters

Standard classification of protected areas:

  • National parks, protected by the Nature Conservation Act.
  • Landscape protection areas, protected by the Nature Conservation Act.
  • Nature reserves, protected by the Nature Conservation Act.
  • Other protected areas, consists of flora and fauna protection areas (biotop protections) by the Nature Conservation Act. Since 2006 nature relics with an area protection and biotops protected by the Act relating to Salmonids and Fresh-water Fish and the Wildlife Act have also been included.

Since 2008, areas protected under the Cultural Heritage Act are also included, and are made up of: Archaeological monuments and sites Security zones Cultural environments Listed buildings.

Since 2014: areas protected according to the Cultural Heritage Act are not included

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