Ocean Health

The annual Ocean Health Index based on the most recent data shows thst four out of five of the lowest-scoring countries with more than 100,000 residents are situated on the African continent and in the Middle East.

Ranking lowest out of 220 nations and regions analyzed is Eritrea with an index score of 54.8, followed by the Ivory Coast and the Republic of the Congo, with 54.9 and 55.9 points respectively.

All three countries score poorly on the food provision sub-index, while Eritrea only achieves three points in the livelihoods and economies segment and both the Ivory Coast and the Republic of the Congo exhibit possibilities for major improvements in the coastal protection sub-index.

The Seychelles rank first in countries with more than 100,000 residents with a score of 86.6, achieving full marks in natural products, carbon storage and tourism and recreation.

Mayotte, another island group around 320 miles off the African coast, places third with 83.9 points, while Portugal with its score of 83.6 is the only European entrant in the top 10 overall and one of two, the second being Russia, when taking into account only countries home to more than 100,000 people.

Overall, the average global index score is 73.5, up 1.3 points from the index’s first edition.

The Ocean Health Index, according to the project website, “measures how well ocean systems are sustainably providing people with the benefits and services they need and desire from marine systems” and was first published in 2012. It analyzes studies connected to ten overarching goals like biodiversity, clean waters and carbon storage as well as food provision or tourism and recreation.

For more: State of the oceans 2023 – made in collaboration with the German Ocean Foundation.