Kenya

785 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

785

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

123

Highest risk

Endangered

281

Very high risk

Vulnerable

381

High risk

Declining

48%

377 species

Category Breakdown
CR 123
EN 281
VU 381
CR: 123
EN: 281
VU: 381

Critically Endangered

12316%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

28136%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

38149%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 785 species

Species by Group
🌱

plants

449

449 threatened

🐟

fishes

107

107 threatened

🐦

birds

50

50 threatened

🐾

mammals

38

38 threatened

🦗

insects

36

36 threatened

🪸

corals

21

21 threatened

🐚

molluscs

20

20 threatened

🐢

reptiles

18

18 threatened

🐸

amphibians

15

15 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

13

13 threatened

🍄

fungi

10

10 threatened

🦀

crustaceans

7

7 threatened

🕷️

arachnids

1

1 threatened

Global Share

1.41%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#50

of 250 countries

Endemic Threatened

209

Found only here

Conservation Outlook

Outlook: Deteriorating

Kenya's biodiversity significance stems from its position straddling the equator and encompassing diverse ecosystems from coastal coral reefs to montane forests. The country hosts portions of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests biodiversity hotspots, supporting high levels of endemism. The Maasai Mara ecosystem connects to Tanzania's Serengeti, facilitating the Great Migration, while Mount Kenya's alpine zones harbor unique flora adapted to equatorial high-altitude conditions.

According to IUCN Red List 2025 data, all 10 assessed species in Kenya are threatened, representing 100% of evaluated insects and plants. Key threats include agricultural expansion into critical habitats, particularly in the Central Highlands where intensive farming fragments forest corridors. Coastal development pressures threaten mangrove ecosystems and coral reefs, while unregulated sand harvesting degrades riverine habitats.

Climate variability affects montane species distributions, with alpine plants on Mount Kenya particularly vulnerable to temperature shifts.

Kenya's trajectory appears mixed, with ongoing habitat conversion offsetting conservation gains. The expansion of conservancies, particularly in the Maasai Mara ecosystem, demonstrates community-based conservation success. However, population pressure and agricultural intensification continue to fragment critical habitats. Marine protected areas along the coast show promise for reef recovery, though enforcement challenges persist.

Savanna GrasslandsMontane ForestsCoastal MangrovesCoral ReefsAlpine ZonesAcacia Woodlands
Top Threats
1.Annual & perennial non-timber crops389 species
2.Logging & wood harvesting276 species
3.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources155 species
4.Livestock farming & ranching138 species
5.Housing & urban areas135 species
6.Fire & fire suppression87 species
7.Agricultural & forestry effluents82 species
8.Mining & quarrying72 species

Protected Areas

63 areas · 169,020 km²

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). Kenya: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/KE

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 Kenya?
Kenya has 785 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 123 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 Kenya have?
Of the 785 threatened species in Kenya, 123 are Critically Endangered, 281 are Endangered, and 381 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Kenya?
Among the 123 Critically Endangered species in Kenya, Giant Clam (Tridacna gigas) 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 Kenya?
Kenya has 63 protected areas catalogued on SpeciesRadar, sourced from the WDPA and national designations. Notable sites include Kiunga, Malindi-Watamu, Mount Kenya, and Community Forest User Groups (1,500+), among 59 others. The full list is sortable and downloadable on the Protected Areas tab.
Which animal and plant groups are most threatened in Kenya?
The most affected groups in Kenya, by number of threatened species, are plants (449), fishes (107), and birds (50). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Kenya?
The leading threats to threatened species in Kenya are annual & perennial non-timber crops, logging & wood harvesting, fishing & harvesting aquatic resources, and livestock farming & ranching. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many threatened species are found only in Kenya?
Kenya has 209 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 Kenya's threatened species have declining populations?
377 of Kenya'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 Kenya compare to other countries for threatened species?
Kenya ranks #50 of 250 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 1.41% 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 Kenya 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 Kenya profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.