Threatened Species Count
Total number of species threatened with extinction (IUCN Red List categories: Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable).
Quick Reference
Unit
species
Category
Environment
Metric Code
endangered_species
How It's Calculated
Total count of species classified as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), or Vulnerable (VU) under IUCN Red List criteria within a country's territory. Based on IUCN Red List assessments using population size, range, decline rates, and extinction risk models. Includes all taxonomic groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, plants).
Why It Matters
Threatened species are indicators of ecosystem health and biodiversity loss. The current extinction rate is 100-1000x the natural background rate, driven by habitat loss, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and overexploitation. Biodiversity loss undermines ecosystem services (pollination, pest control, water purification) and threatens food security and human well-being. It is SDG Indicator 15.5.1 (Red List Index).
Understanding the Values
Very Low: < 50 species (small country or well-conserved) Low: 50-200 (limited threats or lower biodiversity) Moderate: 200-500 (significant threats - conservation action needed) High: 500-1,000 (major biodiversity hotspot under threat) Very High: > 1,000 (mega-diverse countries - Indonesia 1,206, Madagascar 1,197, USA 1,178) SDG Target 15.5: Halt biodiversity loss and prevent species extinction Global total: ~44,000 threatened species (2023) Mammals: ~27% threatened Birds: ~14% threatened Amphibians: ~41% threatened Note: Absolute counts favor large, biodiverse countries. Red List Index (trend) better for comparisons.
Related Metrics
Forest Area
Land area covered by forests, expressed as a percentage of total land area.
Protected Areas Coverage
Terrestrial and marine areas protected for biodiversity conservation, as a percentage of total territorial area.
Marine Protected Areas Coverage
Marine areas protected for biodiversity conservation, as a percentage of total marine territorial area.
Data Quality & Coverage
Coverage: 200+ countries Update frequency: Continuous (species reassessed every 5-10 years) Sources: UN Data / IUCN Red List Limitations: Taxonomic bias - mammals and birds well-assessed (100%), invertebrates and plants under-assessed (< 10% of species). Data-deficient species (DD) not counted but may be threatened. Assessments lag real-time changes. Endemism and country size affect totals - large biodiverse countries naturally have more species. Does not distinguish between country responsibility (endemic vs migratory species).