Iceland

174 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

174

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

45

Highest risk

Endangered

36

Very high risk

Vulnerable

93

High risk

Declining

18%

31 species

Category Breakdown
CR 45
EN 36
VU 93
CR: 45
EN: 36
VU: 93

Critically Endangered

4526%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

3621%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

9353%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 174 species

Species by Group
🌱

plants

36

36 threatened

🐦

birds

28

28 threatened

🐟

fishes

19

19 threatened

🐚

molluscs

18

18 threatened

🦗

insects

17

17 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

15

15 threatened

🍄

fungi

12

12 threatened

🦀

crustaceans

9

9 threatened

🕷️

arachnids

8

8 threatened

🐾

mammals

7

7 threatened

🪸

corals

5

5 threatened

Global Share

0.31%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#146

of 250 countries

Endemic Threatened

3

Found only here

Top Threats
1.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources28 species
2.Habitat shifting & alteration24 species
3.Ocean acidification17 species
4.Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals14 species
5.Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases13 species
6.Ocean acidification from climate change10 species
7.Habitat fragmentation10 species
8.Climate change and altered precipitation patterns9 species

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2026). Iceland: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/IS

Species counts reflect IUCN Red List threatened categories (CR, EN, VU). · Full citation guide & data usage terms

Frequently asked questions

How many threatened species are in Iceland?
Iceland has 174 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 45 of those are Critically Endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction. The figures combine IUCN Red List data with national red list assessments where available.
How many Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable species does Iceland have?
Of the 174 threatened species in Iceland, 45 are Critically Endangered, 36 are Endangered, and 93 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Iceland?
Among the 45 Critically Endangered species in Iceland, Allis Shad (Alosa alosa) is one of the most at-risk — featured prominently on the country dashboard. The full list of Critically Endangered species is filterable on the Species tab.
What protected areas exist in Iceland?
SpeciesRadar does not yet catalogue protected areas for Iceland. Where available, protected-area data is drawn from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and national designations.
Which animal and plant groups are most threatened in Iceland?
The most affected groups in Iceland, by number of threatened species, are plants (36), birds (28), and fishes (19). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Iceland?
The leading threats to threatened species in Iceland are fishing & harvesting aquatic resources, habitat shifting & alteration, ocean acidification, and hunting & trapping terrestrial animals. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many threatened species are found only in Iceland?
Iceland has 3 threatened species that are endemic — found nowhere else on Earth. Because their entire global population depends on this one country, they are especially vulnerable to local habitat loss.
How many of Iceland's threatened species have declining populations?
31 of Iceland's threatened species have populations that are still declining. Reversing these trends is the central focus of the conservation work the country dashboard tracks.
How does Iceland compare to other countries for threatened species?
Iceland ranks #146 of 250 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 0.31% of all threatened species tracked worldwide. Threat is geographically concentrated, so a high rank reflects both rich biodiversity and intense pressure on it.
Where does the data for Iceland come from, and can I download it?
SpeciesRadar draws on the IUCN Red List, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the World Database on Protected Areas, and national red lists. Every table on the Iceland profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.