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Top 10 Largest National Parks in the World

The ten largest national parks on Earth by land area, from Greenland's vast wilderness to the diverse landscapes of Africa and North America.

Updated August 10, 2026 10 ranked 4 sources

Quick answer: 1. Northeast Greenland National Park, 2. Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, 3. Central Kalahari Game Reserve, 4. Namib-Naukluft National Park, 5. Wood Buffalo National Park, 6. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, 7. Salonga National Park, 8. Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, 9. Denali National Park and Preserve, 10. Kafue National Park.

National parks protect some of the world's most pristine and ecologically significant landscapes, preserving biodiversity, natural beauty, and cultural heritage. While many national parks are celebrated for their iconic features, some stand out for their sheer scale, covering millions of hectares of untouched wilderness. These enormous protected areas often encompass diverse ecosystems, from icy tundras and towering mountains to vast deserts and dense forests, providing sanctuary for countless species. This list ranks the largest national parks globally by their land area, highlighting the monumental efforts undertaken by nations to conserve their natural treasures. These parks are not just tourist destinations; they are vital ecological laboratories, critical wildlife corridors, and powerful symbols of humanity's commitment to environmental stewardship.

Area (km²)

Area (km²)
Northeast Greenland National Park
972000 km²
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
53320 km²
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
52800 km²
Namib-Naukluft National Park
49768 km²
Wood Buffalo National Park
44807 km²
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
39460 km²
Salonga National Park
36000 km²
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
35000 km²
Denali National Park and Preserve
24464 km²
Kafue National Park
22400 km²

The ranking

1

Northeast Greenland National Park

The world's largest national park, covering 972,000 km², this vast wilderness protects the entire northeastern coast and interior of Greenland. Established in 1974, it is larger than 166 countries and is home to polar bears, walruses, Arctic foxes, and a wide array of birdlife, with no permanent human population.

Accessibility: Concept: Countries: Country: Greenland (Denmark)Ecosystem: Ecosystems: Established: Highest peak: Key features: Location: Major component: Size comparison: Larger than 166 countriesWildlife: Polar bear, walrus, Arctic foxYear established: 1974
2

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve

The largest national park in the United States, spanning 53,320 km² in Alaska. It encompasses a vast landscape of mountains, glaciers, and volcanoes, including Mount St. Elias, the second-highest peak in both the U.S. and Canada. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Accessibility: Concept: Countries: Country: United StatesEcosystem: Ecosystems: Established: Highest peak: Mount St. EliasKey features: Mountains, glaciers, volcanoesLocation: Major component: Size comparison: Wildlife: Year established: 1980
3

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

While technically a game reserve, its size and protected status often place it among national parks. Covering 52,800 km² in Botswana, it is the second-largest wildlife reserve in the world. It protects vast areas of the Kalahari Desert, known for its unique semi-arid ecosystems and wildlife like the black-maned lion, cheetah, and brown hyena.

Accessibility: Concept: Countries: Country: BotswanaEcosystem: Kalahari DesertEcosystems: Established: Highest peak: Key features: Location: Major component: Size comparison: Wildlife: Black-maned lion, cheetahYear established: 1961
4

Namib-Naukluft National Park

Located in Namibia, this park covers almost 50,000 km² (49,768 km² to be exact), making it one of Africa's largest protected areas. It includes the vast Namib Desert, the iconic dunes of Sossusvlei, and the Naukluft Mountains, preserving a unique ecosystem adapted to extreme arid conditions.

Accessibility: Concept: Countries: Country: NamibiaEcosystem: Arid, desertEcosystems: Established: 1979Highest peak: Key features: Namib Desert, Sossusvlei dunesLocation: Major component: Size comparison: Wildlife: Year established:
5

Wood Buffalo National Park

Canada's largest national park, spanning 44,807 km² across Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It protects the world's largest free-roaming herd of wood bison, the nesting grounds of the whooping crane, and a vast northern boreal forest and freshwater delta. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Accessibility: Concept: Countries: Country: CanadaEcosystem: Boreal forest, deltaEcosystems: Established: Highest peak: Key features: Location: Major component: Size comparison: Wildlife: Wood bison, whooping craneYear established: 1922
6

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve

Located in northern Alaska, this remote park covers 39,460 km² entirely north of the Arctic Circle. It is characterized by vast, unspoiled wilderness, rugged mountains, and caribou migrations, with no roads, trails, or facilities, offering an unparalleled backcountry experience.

Accessibility: No roads or trailsConcept: Countries: Country: United StatesEcosystem: Ecosystems: Established: Highest peak: Key features: Location: North of Arctic CircleMajor component: Size comparison: Wildlife: Year established: 1980
7

Salonga National Park

Africa's largest tropical rainforest national park, Salonga covers 36,000 km² in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, accessible only by water, and protects a vast, intact rainforest ecosystem, home to rare and endangered species like the bonobo, Congo peacock, and African forest elephant.

Accessibility: By water onlyConcept: Countries: Country: Democratic Republic of CongoEcosystem: Tropical rainforestEcosystems: Established: Highest peak: Key features: Location: Major component: Size comparison: Wildlife: Year established: 1970
8

Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park

An ambitious transfrontier conservation area spanning South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, this park covers 35,000 km². It links Kruger National Park (South Africa), Limpopo National Park (Mozambique), and Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe), allowing for the free movement of wildlife across borders.

Accessibility: Concept: Transfrontier conservation areaCountries: South Africa, Mozambique, ZimbabweCountry: Ecosystem: Ecosystems: Established: Highest peak: Key features: Location: Major component: Kruger National ParkSize comparison: Wildlife: Year established: 2002
9

Denali National Park and Preserve

Home to North America's highest peak, Denali (formerly Mount McKinley), this Alaskan park covers 24,464 km² of rugged mountains, glaciers, and vast tundra. Established in 1917, it is known for its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose, caribou, and wolves.

Accessibility: Concept: Countries: Country: United StatesEcosystem: Ecosystems: Established: Highest peak: Denali (6,190 m)Key features: Location: Major component: Size comparison: Wildlife: Grizzly bear, moose, caribou, wolfYear established: 1917
10

Kafue National Park

Zambia's largest national park, encompassing 22,400 km². It is a vast and diverse wilderness, known for its extensive wetlands, savannas, and woodlands, and a wide array of wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dogs. The Kafue River is central to its ecosystem.

Accessibility: Concept: Countries: Country: ZambiaEcosystem: Ecosystems: Wetlands, savannas, woodlandsEstablished: Highest peak: Key features: Location: Major component: Size comparison: Wildlife: Big cats, African wild dogYear established: 1924

Full comparison

# Name AccessibilityConceptCountriesCountryEcosystemEcosystemsEstablishedHighest peakKey featuresLocationMajor componentSize comparisonWildlifeYear established
1 Northeast Greenland National Park Greenland (Denmark)Larger than 166 countriesPolar bear, walrus, Arctic fox1974
2 Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve United StatesMount St. EliasMountains, glaciers, volcanoes1980
3 Central Kalahari Game Reserve BotswanaKalahari DesertBlack-maned lion, cheetah1961
4 Namib-Naukluft National Park NamibiaArid, desert1979Namib Desert, Sossusvlei dunes
5 Wood Buffalo National Park CanadaBoreal forest, deltaWood bison, whooping crane1922
6 Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve No roads or trailsUnited StatesNorth of Arctic Circle1980
7 Salonga National Park By water onlyDemocratic Republic of CongoTropical rainforest1970
8 Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Transfrontier conservation areaSouth Africa, Mozambique, ZimbabweKruger National Park2002
9 Denali National Park and Preserve United StatesDenali (6,190 m)Grizzly bear, moose, caribou, wolf1917
10 Kafue National Park ZambiaWetlands, savannas, woodlandsBig cats, African wild dog1924

How we ranked this

National parks are ranked by their total land area in square kilometers (km²), based on official government declarations and data from organizations like the IUCN and Protected Planet. Only protected areas formally designated as 'National Park' under IUCN Category II are included. Marine protected areas or other categories are excluded unless a significant portion of their protected area is contiguous land-based. Data represents the most recent official figures available.

FAQ

What is the difference between a National Park and a Game Reserve?

While both are protected areas, National Parks are generally managed for public recreation, education, and strict conservation, often restricting human activity beyond tourism. Game Reserves primarily focus on wildlife management, often allowing regulated hunting or resource extraction alongside conservation. However, the largest reserves often function similarly to national parks in terms of ecosystem protection.

Why are marine protected areas not included?

Our methodology focuses on terrestrial (land-based) national parks by area. While many vast marine protected areas exist, they represent a different category of conservation. Some trans-boundary parks that include significant marine components are considered if their land area is a primary factor in their ranking.

Sources