Coral reefs only grow in warm, clean, and shallow tropical waters. That’s why most of the world’s coral reefs are found in a narrow zone near the Central Indo-Pacific. A few countries sit perfectly in this region, giving them the biggest reef areas on Earth.
A study by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2001 used satellite images to map these reefs. Even though the study is older and many reefs have been damaged today due to global warming and coral bleaching, it still helps us understand which countries have the largest coral reef areas.
Here are the top 10 countries with the biggest coral reef areas:
| Country | Coral Reef Area |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | 51,020 sq km |
| Australia | 48,960 sq km |
| Philippines | 25,060 sq km |
| France | 14,280 sq km |
| Papua New Guinea | 13,840 sq km |
| Fiji | 10,020 sq km |
| Maldives | 8,920 sq km |
| Saudi Arabia | 6,660 sq km |
| Marshall Islands | 6,110 sq km |
| India | 5,790 sq km |
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