According to a 2018 study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there were approximately 230,000 protected areas worldwide, including national parks, nature reserves, and other conservation areas. These protected areas cover over 15% of the Earth's land surface. However, this number does not include smaller parks such as city parks, urban green spaces, and recreational areas, which can vary significantly in size and number from country to country.
Another source, the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), maintained by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), lists over 250,000 protected areas globally. This database includes a wider range of protected areas than the IUCN study, including many smaller parks and recreational areas.
It's important to note that these estimates may not capture all of the parks in the world, as some smaller parks or local green spaces may not be included in these databases or studies. Additionally, new parks may be created or existing ones expanded, changing the total number over time.
In conclusion, while there is no definitive number for the total number of parks in the world, estimates from reputable sources suggest that there are hundreds of thousands of parks globally, ranging from small local green spaces to large national parks and nature reserves.