Countries by Coral Reef Area

About This Dataset

Countries ranked by the total area of coral reef ecosystems within their territorial waters, measured in square kilometres according to the World Resources Institute Reefs at Risk data. Australia has the largest coral reef system in the world — the Great Barrier Reef alone spans 344,400 square kilometres, making it the largest living structure on Earth and the only biological organism visible from space, though it has suffered significant bleaching events driven by rising ocean temperatures.

✨ AI Insight

The stark contrast between Australia's coral reef area and that of other countries highlights the unique ecological significance of the Great Barrier Reef, which alone constitutes over 87% of the total coral reef area in the top-ranked nations. Indonesia, with 51,000 square kilometers, and the Philippines, with 26,000 square kilometers, are considerably smaller in comparison. This disparity may be attributed to Australia's extensive coastline and favorable environmental conditions that support vast coral ecosystems, while other nations face challenges such as pollution and climate change, which threaten their reef health. The data suggests a pressing need for global conservation efforts, especially as rising ocean temperatures continue to impact these vital ecosystems.

Source: Wikipedia

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Australia leads with 344 in All Time.

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Average value in All Time: 59 · median: 14.

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Gap in All Time: Australia is 49.1× larger than Saudi Arabia.