A 2025 assessment found that around one million species face extinction, many within decades. These statistics detail the direct decline of forests, oceans, and animal populations worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Ocean acidification projected to cause 20-30% decline in calcifying species by 2100.
- Approximately 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades, more than ever before analyzed.
- The world has lost 83% of wild mammals since the rise of agriculture.
- Plastic pollution affects 88% of marine species.
- Global living planet index shows 69% decline in populations since 1970.
Species and habitats are declining fast worldwide, threatening ecosystems and essential services for people everywhere.
Related reading
01 · Category
Climate Impacts30 stats
01
Ocean acidification projected to cause 20-30% decline in calcifying species by 2100.
02
99% of coral reefs could be lost by 2050 under high emissions.
03
Arctic sea ice loss threatens 70% of polar bear subpopulations.
04
50% of alpine plant species at risk from warming.
05
Sea level rise endangers 70% of mangroves globally.
06
40% of amphibian species vulnerable to climate change.
07
Phenological shifts causing 20% mismatch in bird migration.
08
30% of species at high risk of extinction from 1.5°C warming.
09
Tropical forest tree species turnover increased 50% due to warming.
10
80% of penguin colonies at risk from ice loss.
11
Droughts caused 25% decline in Amazon tree growth.
12
60% of European butterfly species shifting ranges.
13
Marine heatwaves killed 14 billion sea creatures in Tasmania.
14
50% habitat loss for koalas from climate extremes.
15
Permafrost thaw risks 10% of global species.
16
35% increase in extinction risk for Mediterranean species.
17
Coral bleaching events increased 5-fold since 1980s.
18
70% of kelp forests lost off California due to warming.
19
25% of fish species in tropics at risk from ocean warming.
20
High Arctic plants advancing 17 days earlier per decade.
21
40% decline in Antarctic krill from warming oceans.
22
55% of cloud forest species vulnerable to drying.
23
Sea temperature rise causing 20% decline in reef fish.
24
30% extinction risk for freshwater species from heat.
25
65% of wetlands at risk from changing hydrology.
26
Bird species richness declining 5.6% per 1°C warming.
27
50% of butterfly species unable to track warming.
28
75% of boreal forest at risk from fire increase.
29
45% decline in lizard species from heat stress.
30
20% of marine species shifting 10x faster than land.
Interpretation
Climate Impacts Interpretation
The grim ledger of our planet reads like a debt collector's notice for a life-ruining habit, tallying the imminent repossession of polar bears, penguins, koalas, and coral reefs for the unpaid bills of our atmospheric excess.
02 · Category
Extinction Rates30 stats
01
Approximately 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades, more than ever before analyzed.
02
Of all assessed species, 28% of those evaluated by the IUCN are threatened with extinction as of 2023.
03
Since 1500, at least 680 vertebrate species have been driven to extinction, with a conservative estimate.
04
The extinction risk for birds has increased by 14% since the 1980s, affecting over 13% of all bird species.
05
Mammals face extinction rates 276 times higher than background rates, with 25% threatened.
06
Over 40% of amphibians are threatened with extinction, the highest of any major group.
07
33% of sharks and rays are now threatened with extinction due to overfishing.
08
Coral reefs have lost 14% of their cover since 2009, with 44% at risk of decline.
09
85% of wetland species are declining globally due to habitat loss and pollution.
10
Insect species extinction rates are 8-10 times higher than vertebrates, estimated at 25% threatened.
11
20% of reptile species are at risk of extinction, with hotspots in Southeast Asia.
12
Freshwater fish extinction risk is 3 times higher than terrestrial counterparts, 33% threatened.
13
Since 1970, populations of 529 bird and mammal species have declined by 73% on average.
14
37% of coniferous tree species are threatened globally.
15
Over 500 plant species have gone extinct in the last 200 years, accelerating now.
16
21% of assessed sharks are critically endangered.
17
Global extinction rate is 100-1,000 times higher than pre-human background rates.
18
41% of insect species in Germany are threatened, indicative of Europe-wide trends.
19
60% of primate species are threatened with extinction.
20
14% of vascular plants are threatened, with 39,000 species at risk.
21
Between 1900 and 2016, 571 bird species went extinct, 9 times more than before.
22
50% of cycad species are critically endangered.
23
26% of marine mammals are threatened with extinction.
24
Since 1980, 60% of assessed freshwater mollusks are extinct or threatened.
25
35% of mangroves species face extinction risk.
26
Global hotspots have extinction rates up to 1,000 times background.
27
27% of assessed bees are threatened.
28
47% of 77 turtle species are threatened.
29
80% of insect species in tropical forests at risk.
30
23% of conifers threatened, highest plant risk.
Interpretation
Extinction Rates Interpretation
Our planet's vibrant tapestry of life is being rapidly unpicked, thread by thread, with numbers that scream a sobering truth: we are presiding over an era of staggering loss, where entire chapters of life's story are being erased on our watch.
03 · Category
Habitat Loss30 stats
01
The world has lost 83% of wild mammals since the rise of agriculture.
02
Forests covering 31% of land area are lost at 10 million hectares per year.
03
75% of ice-free land has been significantly altered by humans.
04
85% of wetlands present in 1700 have been lost.
05
50% of global coral reefs have been lost since 1950.
06
Amazon rainforest lost 11.088 million hectares between 1985-2020.
07
87% of wetland habitats lost in California since 1700s.
08
35% of mangroves lost since 1980 globally.
09
40% of global peatlands drained, emitting 5% of anthropogenic GHGs.
10
20 million hectares of forest lost annually 2010-2020.
11
70% of European forests fragmented by roads.
12
90% of seagrass meadows lost in some regions.
13
Borneo lost 30% of its forests since 1973.
14
50% of temperate broadleaf forests converted to agriculture.
15
77% decline in kelp forests in parts of Australia.
16
25% of global land area used for crops/livestock.
17
Congo Basin lost 5.6% forest cover 2001-2020.
18
95% of tallgrass prairies in US converted.
19
40% of global grasslands degraded.
20
Sumatra lost 25% forests 2001-2019.
21
60% of Mediterranean forests degraded.
22
80% of Australian bushland cleared since 1788.
23
33% of global savannas fragmented.
24
50% of heathlands in Europe lost.
25
70% of Chilean temperate rainforests logged.
26
45% of global saltmarshes converted.
27
Brazil lost 420,000 sq km Amazon forest 1985-2022.
28
90% of Indonesian peat swamp forests degraded.
29
55% of alpine meadows in Himalayas degraded.
30
65% of US rangelands degraded by overgrazing.
Interpretation
Habitat Loss Interpretation
Humanity has essentially traded the planet’s original, lavish decor—complete with forests, wetlands, and coral reefs—for a stark, minimalist style of concrete and monoculture, leaving behind a rather empty and less functional home.
More related reading
04 · Category
Pollution and Other Threats24 stats
01
Plastic pollution affects 88% of marine species.
02
8 million metric tons of plastic enter oceans yearly.
03
80% of seabirds have ingested plastic.
04
Nitrogen pollution threatens 86% of assessed species in Europe.
05
Pesticides cause 40% decline in farmland birds.
06
50% of global rivers polluted by agricultural runoff.
07
Neonicotinoids linked to 50% bee colony losses.
08
90% of freshwater fish exposed to pharmaceuticals.
09
Acid rain damaged 30% of European forests.
10
Microplastics in 60% of global bird species.
11
Heavy metals bioaccumulate in 70% of top predators.
12
Oil spills affect 100,000 birds annually.
13
75% of coral reefs damaged by coastal pollution.
14
Light pollution disorients 90% of migratory birds.
15
60% of wetlands polluted by urban runoff.
16
Glyphosate residues in 80% of EU streams.
17
Noise pollution reduces whale populations by 20%.
18
40 million tons of e-waste pollute soils yearly.
19
PFAS chemicals in 99% of US blood samples, affecting wildlife.
20
70% of global fisheries overexploited.
21
Invasive species cause 60% of extinctions on islands.
22
Bushmeat trade threatens 300 primate species.
23
34,000 species threatened by invasive aliens.
24
Rats cause 50% of island bird extinctions.
Interpretation
Pollution and Other Threats Interpretation
Our planet's vibrant tapestry of life is being methodically unpicked, thread by toxic thread, as we drown, poison, and blind the very creatures with whom we share this fragile home.
05 · Category
Population Declines30 stats
01
Global living planet index shows 69% decline in populations since 1970.
02
Insect populations in Germany declined 76% over 27 years.
03
Freshwater populations declined 84% since 1970.
04
Marine populations dropped 36% globally since 1970.
05
Terrestrial populations fell 39% since 1970.
06
North American bird populations lost 3 billion since 1970, 29% decline.
07
Bat populations in US declined 50% in 10 years.
08
Monarch butterfly populations fell 80% in 20 years.
09
African elephant populations dropped 62% 2000-2016.
10
73% decline in vulture populations in India 1990s-2000s.
11
Salmon populations in Pacific Northwest declined 90% since 1800s.
12
97% decline in Christmas Island forest skink.
13
Bumblebee populations in US/UK declined 90% since 1890s.
14
Caribbean coral reef fish populations down 60%.
15
Tiger populations fell from 100,000 to 3,900 since 1900.
16
68% decline in global wildlife populations 1970-2016.
17
Saiga antelope populations crashed 95% in 1990s.
18
Cod populations in North Sea down 75% since 1970s.
19
50% decline in large fish populations globally.
20
Puffin populations in Maine declined 60% since 2007.
21
80% decline in giraffe populations since 1980.
22
Neotropical migrant birds down 20-30% in Canada.
23
88% decline in farmland birds in Europe since 1980.
24
Hawaiian honeycreeper populations lost 50% since 1900.
25
70% decline in Yangtze finless porpoise.
26
60% drop in Antarctic krill populations.
27
90% decline in vaquita porpoise.
28
75% reduction in rhino populations globally.
29
40% decline in African lion populations since 1993.
30
65% drop in cheetah populations.
Interpretation
Population Declines Interpretation
The planet is quietly closing down its departments, and it appears we're all on the list for redundancy.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Biodiversity Loss Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/biodiversity-loss-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Biodiversity Loss Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/biodiversity-loss-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Biodiversity Loss Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/biodiversity-loss-statistics.
Sources & references
63 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level