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Global Wildlife Populations Plunge 73% Since 1970, WWF Report Reveals
- •The average size of monitored wildlife populations worldwide fell by 73% between 1970 and 2022, according to the WWF Living Planet Report 2026.
- •Freshwater ecosystems suffered the steepest decline with monitored populations plummeting by 85%.
- •Terrestrial and marine ecosystems recorded significant population drops of 69% and 59% respectively.
- •The Asia-Pacific region saw a monitored wildlife population decline of 49% over the same period, lower than the global average.
- •The 73% figure reflects the average relative change in monitored populations over time and does not represent the total extinction of species.
Key Questions Answered
The 73% figure represents the average relative change in the size of monitored wildlife populations worldwide between 1970 and 2022. It reflects changes over time within monitored populations rather than meaning that 73% of all wild animals have died or that 73% of species have gone extinct.
Freshwater ecosystems saw the steepest decline among the three major categories, with monitored wildlife populations falling by an average of 85% between 1970 and 2022. Terrestrial populations followed with a 69% decline, while marine ecosystems recorded a 59% decline.
Monitored wildlife populations in the Asia-Pacific region declined by an average of 49% between 1970 and 2022. Although this regional drop was lower than the global average decline of 73%, it still highlights a significant reduction in wildlife population sizes across the area.
