In 2023, around 75,000 species of vertebrates were known and 11,200 were endangered to become extinct. Furthermore, there were 425,000 plants discovered around the world of which 26,300 were endangered.
Number of species discovered in the world and the number of species on the Red List of Threatened Species in 2023, by type of organism
Characteristic
Estimated number of described species
Organisms on the Red List
Vertebrates
74,962
11,195
Invertebrates
1,480,351
6,221
Plant
425,035
26,276
Fungi & Protists
172,946
324
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Number of species74,96274,9621,480,3511,480,351425,035425,035172,946172,94611,19511,1956,2216,22126,27626,276324324Estimated number of described speciesOrganisms on the Red ListVertebratesInvertebratesPlantFungi & Protists
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IUCN = International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Organisms on the Red List are those categorized as: Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) or Vulnerable (VU).
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IUCN. (December 11, 2023). Number of species discovered in the world and the number of species on the Red List of Threatened Species in 2023, by type of organism [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 31, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/264679/biodiversity-species-on-the-red-list/
IUCN. "Number of species discovered in the world and the number of species on the Red List of Threatened Species in 2023, by type of organism." Chart. December 11, 2023. Statista. Accessed January 31, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/264679/biodiversity-species-on-the-red-list/
IUCN. (2023). Number of species discovered in the world and the number of species on the Red List of Threatened Species in 2023, by type of organism. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 31, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/264679/biodiversity-species-on-the-red-list/
IUCN. "Number of Species Discovered in The World and The Number of Species on The Red List of Threatened Species in 2023, by Type of Organism." Statista, Statista Inc., 11 Dec 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/264679/biodiversity-species-on-the-red-list/
IUCN, Number of species discovered in the world and the number of species on the Red List of Threatened Species in 2023, by type of organism Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/264679/biodiversity-species-on-the-red-list/ (last visited January 31, 2025)
Number of species discovered in the world and the number of species on the Red List of Threatened Species in 2023, by type of organism [Graph], IUCN, December 11, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/264679/biodiversity-species-on-the-red-list/
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