Marine protected areas indicator is measured as the percentage of a country's total exclusive economic zone (EEZ) designated as marine protected areas (MPAs). MPAs represent a critical tool for protecting marine ecosystems from unsustainable fishing practices, pollution, and human disturbance. Because each country may have multiple EEZs, the summed area of MPAs is divided by the summed EEZ.

Original source: World Database on Protected Areas.

When using this variable, please cite both EPI and the original source.