# List of parties to the Ramsar Convention

This is a list of parties contracting to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, also known as the Convention on Wetlands. The convention's mission is "the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world". It calls upon contracting parties to recognize the interdependence of humans and the environment as well as the ecological functions of wetlands, such as wildlife habitat, nutrient cycling, and flood control.
The Ramsar Convention is the oldest multilateral international conservation convention and the only one to deal with one habitat or ecosystem type, wetlands. The convention's headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland, and it works closely with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The convention was held in the city of Ramsar, Iran, in February 1971 and was originally contracted by seven countries when it came into force on 21 December 1975. As of October 2024, there are 172 contracting parties and 2,531 designated sites covering 257,909,286 hectares (637,307,730 acres). 171 of the contracting parties have designated at least one Ramsar site, and 32 of the contracting countries have only one site. The country with the most sites is the United Kingdom with 175. To become a Ramsar site, a site must be nominated by a contracting country, meet at least one of nine criteria, and undergo scientific review.
The table lists the countries contracting to the convention, the entry date of each country to the convention, the number of Ramsar sites in each country, and the total area of all Ramsar sites in each country.
Ramsar Convention contracting parties :
| Country | Region | Entry date | Ramsar sites | Area | Area |
| Country | Region | Entry date | Ramsar sites | hectares | acres |
| Albania | Europe | 29 February 1996 | 4 | 98,181 | 242,610 |
| Algeria | Africa | 4 March 1984 | 50 | 3,032,813 | 7,494,240 |
| Andorra | Europe | 23 November 2012 | 3 | 6,870 | 17,000 |
| Angola | Africa | 10 October 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Latin America and the Caribbean | 2 October 2005 | 1 | 3,600 | 8,900 |
| Argentina | Latin America and the Caribbean | 4 September 1992 | 24 | 6,085,995 | 15,038,820 |
| Armenia | Europe | 6 November 1993 | 3 | 493,511 | 1,219,490 |
| Australia | Oceania | 21 December 1975 | 67 | 8,378,162 | 20,702,890 |
| Austria | Europe | 16 April 1983 | 24 | 125,046 | 309,000 |
| Azerbaijan | Europe | 21 September 2001 | 2 | 99,560 | 246,000 |
| Bahamas | Latin America and the Caribbean | 7 June 1997 | 1 | 32,600 | 81,000 |
| Bahrain | Asia | 27 February 1998 | 2 | 6,810 | 16,800 |
| Bangladesh | Asia | 21 September 1992 | 2 | 611,200 | 1,510,000 |
| Barbados | Latin America and the Caribbean | 12 April 2006 | 1 | 33 | 82 |
| Belarus | Europe | 25 August 1991 | 26 | 777,895 | 1,922,220 |
| Belgium | Europe | 4 July 1986 | 9 | 46,944 | 116,000 |
| Belize | Latin America and the Caribbean | 22 August 1998 | 2 | 23,592 | 58,300 |
| Benin | Africa | 24 May 2000 | 4 | 2,587,342 | 6,393,460 |
| Bhutan | Asia | 7 September 2012 | 3 | 1,225 | 3,030 |
| Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | Latin America and the Caribbean | 27 October 1990 | 11 | 14,842,405 | 36,676,380 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Europe | 1 March 1992 | 3 | 57,192 | 141,320 |
| Botswana | Africa | 9 April 1997 | 1 | 5,537,400 | 13,683,000 |
| Brazil | Latin America and the Caribbean | 24 September 1993 | 27 | 26,794,455 | 66,210,540 |
| Bulgaria | Europe | 24 January 1976 | 11 | 49,397 | 122,060 |
| Burkina Faso | Africa | 27 October 1990 | 25 | 1,940,481 | 4,795,030 |
| Burundi | Africa | 5 October 2002 | 4 | 78,515 | 194,010 |
| Cambodia | Asia | 23 October 1999 | 5 | 85,235 | 210,620 |
| Cameroon | Africa | 20 July 2006 | 7 | 827,060 | 2,043,700 |
| Canada | North America | 15 May 1981 | 37 | 13,086,767 | 32,338,110 |
| Cape Verde | Africa | 18 November 2005 | 4 | 2,300 | 5,700 |
| Central African Republic | Africa | 5 April 2006 | 2 | 376,300 | 930,000 |
| Chad | Africa | 13 October 1990 | 6 | 12,405,068 | 30,653,590 |
| Chile | Latin America and the Caribbean | 27 November 1981 | 16 | 363,927 | 899,280 |
| China | Asia | 31 July 1992 | 82 | 7,647,895 | 18,898,360 |
| Colombia | Latin America and the Caribbean | 18 October 1998 | 10 | 814,717 | 2,013,210 |
| Comoros | Africa | 9 June 1995 | 3 | 16,030 | 39,600 |
| Congo | Africa | 18 October 1998 | 14 | 13,813,865 | 34,134,800 |
| Costa Rica | Latin America and the Caribbean | 27 April 1992 | 12 | 569,742 | 1,407,860 |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Africa | 27 June 1996 | 6 | 127,344 | 314,670 |
| Croatia | Europe | 25 June 1991 | 5 | 93,590 | 231,300 |
| Cuba | Latin America and the Caribbean | 12 August 2001 | 6 | 1,188,411 | 2,936,630 |
| Cyprus | Europe | 11 November 2001 | 1 | 1,107 | 2,740 |
| Czech Republic | Europe | 1 January 1993 | 14 | 60,207 | 148,770 |
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Asia | 16 January 2018 | 2 | 7,241 | 17,890 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Africa | 18 May 1996 | 4 | 11,906,617 | 29,421,890 |
| Denmark | Europe | 2 January 1978 | 43 | 2,335,939 | 5,772,230 |
| Djibouti | Africa | 22 March 2003 | 1 | 3,000 | 7,400 |
| Dominican Republic | Latin America and the Caribbean | 15 September 2002 | 6 | 225,173 | 556,410 |
| Ecuador | Latin America and the Caribbean | 7 January 1991 | 19 | 1,064,483 | 2,630,390 |
| Egypt | Africa | 9 September 1988 | 4 | 415,532 | 1,026,800 |
| El Salvador | Latin America and the Caribbean | 22 May 1999 | 8 | 228,719 | 565,180 |
| Equatorial Guinea | Africa | 2 October 2003 | 3 | 136,000 | 340,000 |
| Estonia | Europe | 29 July 1994 | 17 | 306,481 | 757,330 |
| Eswatini | Africa | 15 June 2013 | 3 | 1,183 | 2,920 |
| Fiji | Oceania | 11 August 2006 | 2 | 135,515 | 334,860 |
| Finland | Europe | 21 December 1975 | 49 | 799,518 | 1,975,650 |
| France | Europe | 1 December 1986 | 55 | 3,906,246 | 9,652,540 |
| Gabon | Africa | 30 April 1987 | 9 | 3,001,769 | 7,417,530 |
| The Gambia | Africa | 16 January 1997 | 3 | 31,244 | 77,210 |
| Georgia | Europe | 7 June 1997 | 4 | 36,010 | 89,000 |
| Germany | Europe | 26 June 1976 | 35 | 869,265 | 2,148,000 |
| Ghana | Africa | 22 June 1988 | 6 | 176,134 | 435,240 |
| Greece | Europe | 21 December 1975 | 10 | 163,501 | 404,020 |
| Grenada | Latin America and the Caribbean | 22 September 2012 | 1 | 518 | 1,280 |
| Guatemala | Latin America and the Caribbean | 26 October 1990 | 7 | 628,592 | 1,553,280 |
| Guinea | Africa | 18 March 1993 | 16 | 9,065,446 | 22,401,200 |
| Guinea-Bissau | Africa | 14 May 1990 | 4 | 1,189,633 | 2,939,650 |
| Honduras | Latin America and the Caribbean | 23 October 1993 | 12 | 305,927 | 755,960 |
| Hungary | Europe | 11 August 1979 | 29 | 260,668 | 644,120 |
| Iceland | Europe | 2 April 1978 | 6 | 128,666 | 317,940 |
| India | Asia | 1 February 1982 | 89 | 1,359,434 | 3,359,230 |
| Indonesia | Asia | 8 August 1992 | 8 | 1,375,426 | 3,398,750 |
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) | Asia | 21 December 1975 | 27 | 1,494,371 | 3,692,670 |
| Iraq | Asia | 17 February 2008 | 4 | 537,900 | 1,329,000 |
| Ireland | Europe | 15 March 1985 | 45 | 66,994 | 165,550 |
| Israel | Europe | 12 March 1997 | 2 | 366 | 900 |
| Italy | Europe | 14 April 1977 | 57 | 73,982 | 182,810 |
| Jamaica | Latin America and the Caribbean | 7 February 1998 | 4 | 37,847 | 93,520 |
| Japan | Asia | 17 October 1980 | 53 | 155,174 | 383,440 |
| Jordan | Asia | 10 May 1977 | 2 | 13,472 | 33,290 |
| Kazakhstan | Asia | 2 May 2007 | 10 | 3,188,557 | 7,879,100 |
| Kenya | Africa | 5 October 1990 | 6 | 265,449 | 655,940 |
| Kiribati | Oceania | 3 August 2013 | 1 | 1,033 | 2,550 |
| Kuwait | Asia | 5 September 2015 | 1 | 50,948 | 125,900 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Asia | 12 March 2003 | 3 | 679,408 | 1,678,850 |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | Asia | 28 October 2010 | 2 | 14,760 | 36,500 |
| Latvia | Europe | 25 November 1995 | 6 | 150,318 | 371,440 |
| Lebanon | Asia | 16 August 1999 | 4 | 1,075 | 2,660 |
| Lesotho | Africa | 1 November 2004 | 1 | 434 | 1,070 |
| Liberia | Africa | 2 November 2003 | 5 | 95,879 | 236,920 |
| Libya | Africa | 5 August 2000 | 2 | 83 | 210 |
| Liechtenstein | Europe | 6 December 1991 | 1 | 101 | 250 |
| Lithuania | Europe | 20 December 1993 | 7 | 65,581 | 162,050 |
| Luxembourg | Europe | 15 August 1998 | 2 | 17,213 | 42,530 |
| Madagascar | Africa | 25 January 1999 | 21 | 2,147,911 | 5,307,600 |
| Malawi | Africa | 14 March 1997 | 1 | 286,356 | 707,600 |
| Malaysia | Asia | 10 March 1995 | 7 | 134,182 | 331,570 |
| Mali | Africa | 25 September 1987 | 4 | 4,204,640 | 10,389,900 |
| Malta | Europe | 30 January 1989 | 2 | 117 | 290 |
| Marshall Islands | Oceania | 13 November 2004 | 2 | 70,119 | 173,270 |
| Mauritania | Africa | 22 February 1983 | 4 | 1,240,600 | 3,066,000 |
| Mauritius | Africa | 30 September 2001 | 3 | 401 | 990 |
| Mexico | North America | 4 November 1986 | 144 | 8,721,911 | 21,552,310 |
| Monaco | Europe | 20 December 1997 | 1 | 23 | 57 |
| Mongolia | Asia | 8 April 1998 | 11 | 1,439,530 | 3,557,200 |
| Montenegro | Europe | 3 June 1996 | 3 | 21,627 | 53,440 |
| Morocco | Africa | 20 October 1980 | 38 | 316,086 | 781,070 |
| Mozambique | Africa | 3 December 2004 | 2 | 4,534,872 | 11,205,910 |
| Myanmar | Asia | 17 March 2005 | 7 | 278,913 | 689,210 |
| Namibia | Africa | 23 December 1995 | 5 | 676,564 | 1,671,830 |
| Nepal | Asia | 17 April 1988 | 10 | 60,561 | 149,650 |
| Netherlands | Europe | 23 September 1980 | 58 | 928,513 | 2,294,410 |
| New Zealand | Oceania | 13 December 1976 | 7 | 67,186 | 166,020 |
| Nicaragua | Latin America and the Caribbean | 30 November 1997 | 9 | 406,852 | 1,005,350 |
| Niger | Africa | 30 August 1987 | 14 | 7,534,289 | 18,617,630 |
| Nigeria | Africa | 2 February 2001 | 13 | 1,076,946 | 2,661,190 |
| North Macedonia | Europe | 8 September 1991 | 3 | 46,821 | 115,700 |
| Norway | Europe | 21 December 1975 | 63 | 909,134 | 2,246,520 |
| Oman | Asia | 19 August 2013 | 3 | 213,876 | 528,500 |
| Pakistan | Asia | 23 November 1976 | 19 | 1,343,627 | 3,320,170 |
| Palau | Oceania | 18 February 2003 | 1 | 500 | 1,200 |
| Panama | Latin America and the Caribbean | 26 November 1990 | 5 | 220,737 | 545,450 |
| Papua New Guinea | Oceania | 16 July 1993 | 2 | 594,924 | 1,470,090 |
| Paraguay | Latin America and the Caribbean | 7 October 1995 | 6 | 785,970 | 1,942,200 |
| Peru | Latin America and the Caribbean | 30 March 1992 | 14 | 6,789,685 | 16,777,680 |
| Philippines | Asia | 8 November 1994 | 10 | 431,890 | 1,067,200 |
| Poland | Europe | 22 March 1978 | 19 | 152,964 | 377,980 |
| Portugal | Europe | 24 March 1981 | 31 | 132,487 | 327,380 |
| Republic of Korea | Asia | 28 July 1997 | 26 | 20,265 | 50,080 |
| Republic of Moldova | Europe | 20 October 2000 | 3 | 94,705 | 234,020 |
| Romania | Europe | 21 September 1991 | 20 | 1,177,748 | 2,910,280 |
| Russian Federation | Europe | 11 February 1977 (ratified as Soviet Union) | 35 | 10,323,767 | 25,510,580 |
| Rwanda | Africa | 1 April 2006 | 1 | 6,736 | 16,650 |
| Saint Lucia | Latin America and the Caribbean | 19 June 2002 | 2 | 85 | 210 |
| Samoa | Oceania | 6 February 2005 | 3 | 5,767 | 14,250 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | Africa | 21 December 2006 | 1 | 23 | 57 |
| Senegal | Africa | 11 November 1977 | 9 | 159,137 | 393,240 |
| Serbia | Europe | 27 April 1992 (ratified as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) | 11 | 130,411 | 322,250 |
| Seychelles | Africa | 22 March 2005 | 3 | 44,025 | 108,790 |
| Sierra Leone | Africa | 13 April 2000 | 1 | 295,000 | 730,000 |
| Slovakia | Europe | 1 January 1993 | 14 | 40,697 | 100,560 |
| Slovenia | Europe | 25 June 1991 | 3 | 8,205 | 20,270 |
| South Africa | Africa | 21 December 1975 | 31 | 584,790 | 1,445,000 |
| South Sudan | Africa | 10 October 2013 | 1 | 5,700,000 | 14,000,000 |
| Spain | Europe | 4 September 1982 | 76 | 313,083 | 773,640 |
| Sri Lanka | Asia | 15 October 1990 | 6 | 198,172 | 489,690 |
| Sudan | Africa | 7 May 2005 | 4 | 3,436,009 | 8,490,560 |
| Suriname | Latin America and the Caribbean | 22 November 1985 | 1 | 12,000 | 30,000 |
| Sweden | Europe | 21 December 1975 | 68 | 665,474 | 1,644,420 |
| Switzerland | Europe | 16 May 1976 | 11 | 14,690 | 36,300 |
| Syrian Arab Republic | Asia | 5 July 1998 | 1 | 10,000 | 25,000 |
| Tajikistan | Asia | 18 November 2001 | 5 | 94,600 | 234,000 |
| Thailand | Asia | 13 September 1998 | 15 | 405,219 | 1,001,320 |
| Togo | Africa | 4 November 1995 | 4 | 1,210,400 | 2,991,000 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Latin America and the Caribbean | 21 April 1993 | 3 | 15,919 | 39,340 |
| Tunisia | Africa | 24 March 1981 | 42 | 844,685 | 2,087,260 |
| Turkey | Europe | 13 November 1994 | 14 | 184,487 | 455,880 |
| Turkmenistan | Asia | 3 July 2009 | 1 | 267,124 | 660,080 |
| Uganda | Africa | 4 July 1988 | 12 | 454,303 | 1,122,610 |
| Ukraine | Europe | 1 December 1991 | 50 | 802,604 | 1,983,280 |
| United Arab Emirates | Asia | 29 December 2007 | 10 | 39,166 | 96,780 |
| United Kingdom | Europe | 5 May 1976 | 175 | 1,283,040 | 3,170,500 |
| United Republic of Tanzania | Africa | 13 August 2000 | 4 | 4,868,424 | 12,030,140 |
| United States of America | North America | 18 December 1986 | 41 | 1,884,551 | 4,656,830 |
| Uruguay | Latin America and the Caribbean | 22 September 1984 | 3 | 435,837 | 1,076,980 |
| Uzbekistan | Asia | 8 February 2002 | 4 | 674,400 | 1,666,000 |
| Vanuatu | Oceania | 4 November 2019 | 1 | 8,248.1 | 20,381 |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | Latin America and the Caribbean | 23 November 1988 | 5 | 265,668 | 656,480 |
| Vietnam | Asia | 20 January 1989 | 9 | 120,549 | 297,880 |
| Yemen | Asia | 8 February 2008 | 1 | 580 | 1,400 |
| Zambia | Africa | 28 December 1991 | 8 | 4,030,500 | 9,960,000 |
| Zimbabwe | Africa | 3 May 2013 | 7 | 453,828 | 1,121,430 |