10 countries with the largest number of national parks

National Parks comprise the framework of worldwide conservation, sheltering ancient rainforests, coral reefs, as well as glaciers, deserts, and grasslands. Although every nation delineates and administers their national parks uniquely, there are a few nations that qualify because of the massive extent of their national parks. From continents with hundreds of protected landscapes to countries that have only recently launched formal park systems, these ten nations host the world’s most extensive collections of national parks. Here is a look at the countries with the highest number of national parks today.

Australia holds the world’s largest national park network when state and territory parks are counted together. Spread across six states and two territories, the country’s more than 600 national parks protect an extraordinary range of ecosystems, from the tropical rainforests of Queensland and the red deserts of the Outback to rugged coastlines and alpine landscapes. Because Australia does not operate a single national park authority, each state manages its own system. This decentralised approach has allowed the country to build one of the most comprehensive protected-area networks on Earth, safeguarding habitats for kangaroos, koalas, platypuses and thousands of endemic plant species.

Thailand has one of Asia’s largest and most diverse national park systems. Its network of around 147 national parks covers dense jungles, limestone karst formations, waterfalls, coral reefs and mangrove forests across the country. Many of Thailand’s best-known wildlife and adventure destinations lie within this system, including Khao Yai, Erawan, Doi Inthanon and Mu Ko Similan. The parks play a vital role in protecting elephants, tigers, gibbons and marine life, while also forming the backbone of Thailand’s eco-tourism industry.

The country’s national park network is one of the most biodiverse on the planet. India has 107 notified national parks, which cover a variety of habitats spread across the Himalayas and deserts, to scrub lands, alpine meadows in the Himalayas, wetlands, and mangrove forests, among others. The animal species found in these parks include the iconic tiger, lion, rhinoceros, snow leopard, and Asian elephants. Parks such as Jim Corbett, Kaziranga, Ranthambore, Gir and Sundarbans are internationally recognised for both conservation and tourism.

Brazil provides protection to large tracts of the most biodiverse ecosystems of South America; for example, the Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal wetlands. Brazil protects about 75 national parks, and they play important roles when it comes to the regulation of the Earth's climate. Famous parks such as Iguaçu, Jaú, Chapada Diamantina and Lençóis Maranhenses highlight the country’s ecological diversity, from roaring waterfalls and cave systems to river basins and tropical wilderness.

The United States operates one of the world’s most famous national park systems. Managed by the National Park Service, its 63 officially designated national parks protect some of the planet’s most famous landscapes, including world’s first national park - Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Zion and Great Smoky Mountains. Although the US has thousands of protected areas, only 63 carry the formal “National Park” designation. These parks protect volcanoes, glaciers, deserts, canyons, coral reefs, and old growth rainforests while accommodating millions of visitors annually.

Canada is protecting one of the largest ecosystems in the world through the national park system. Canada has a total of 37 national parks as well as 11 national park reserves covering the Arctic tundra, forests, mountains, and coastlines. Famous national parks such as Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Gros Morne, and Wood Buffalo preserve the habitat of polar bears, wolves, caribou, and grizzly bears. Canada’s park reserves are managed similarly to national parks but remain subject to unresolved Indigenous land claims.

Argentina maintains a wide-ranging national park network that spans Patagonia, the Andes, subtropical rainforests and wetland systems. Its 35 national parks (and counting) protect glaciers, high-altitude lakes, temperate forests and river basins. Los Glaciares, Iguazú, Huapi, and Tierra del Fuego are some of the most renowned national parks, which protects landscapes that vary from glaciers and ice fields to waterfalls and southern plains.

South Africa has 19 national parks that are managed by South African National Parks (SANParks) and are world-famous for wildlife conservation and safari tourism. These protected wildlife areas safeguard savannas, deserts, mountain ranges, coastlines, and marine ecosystems. Kruger National Park, one of the largest and best-known protected wildlife areas in Africa, tops this list, and other protected areas like Addo Elephant Park, Table Mountain, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park demonstrate the country's rich biodiversity.

Despite its small size, New Zealand’s national park network protects some of the most dramatic landscapes in the Southern Hemisphere. Its 13 national parks include fjords, glaciers, volcanoes, alpine peaks and ancient rainforests. Fiordland, Tongariro and Aoraki / Mount Cook are among the most celebrated, preserving ecosystems that support rare birds, endemic plants and pristine wilderness areas central to the country’s conservation identity. New Zealand national parks are also some of the most photogenic ones in the world.

Did you know that China’s formal national park system is one of the newest in the world? In 2021, the country established its first batch of five officially designated national parks as part of a new nationwide conservation framework. These include Giant Panda National Park, Sanjiangyuan, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, Hainan Tropical Rainforest and Wuyishan. Although China has thousands of protected areas, only these five currently fall under its new national park classification.