Sri Lanka

753 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

753

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

194

Highest risk

Endangered

276

Very high risk

Vulnerable

283

High risk

Declining

53%

401 species

Category Breakdown
CR 194
EN 276
VU 283
CR: 194
EN: 276
VU: 283

Critically Endangered

19426%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

27637%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

28338%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 753 species

Species by Group
🌱

plants

278

278 threatened

🐟

fishes

111

111 threatened

🐢

reptiles

109

109 threatened

🐸

amphibians

73

73 threatened

🦗

insects

49

49 threatened

🦀

crustaceans

41

41 threatened

🐾

mammals

31

31 threatened

🪸

corals

29

29 threatened

🐦

birds

19

19 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

5

5 threatened

🍄

fungi

4

4 threatened

🐚

molluscs

2

2 threatened

🕷️

arachnids

2

2 threatened

Global Share

1.35%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#56

of 253 countries

Endemic Threatened

511

Found only here

Top Threats
1.Logging & wood harvesting356 species
2.Annual & perennial non-timber crops334 species
3.Type Unknown/Unrecorded (pollution)230 species
4.Habitat shifting & alteration221 species
5.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources185 species
6.Agricultural & forestry effluents167 species
7.Housing & urban areas143 species
8.Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases135 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). Sri Lanka: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/LK

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 Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has 753 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 194 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 Sri Lanka have?
Of the 753 threatened species in Sri Lanka, 194 are Critically Endangered, 276 are Endangered, and 283 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Sri Lanka?
Among the 194 Critically Endangered species in Sri Lanka, Kayea stylosa 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 Sri Lanka?
SpeciesRadar does not yet catalogue protected areas for Sri Lanka. 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 Sri Lanka?
The most affected groups in Sri Lanka, by number of threatened species, are plants (278), fishes (111), and reptiles (109). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Sri Lanka?
The leading threats to threatened species in Sri Lanka are logging & wood harvesting, annual & perennial non-timber crops, type unknown/unrecorded (pollution), and habitat shifting & alteration. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many threatened species are found only in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has 511 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 Sri Lanka's threatened species have declining populations?
401 of Sri Lanka'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 Sri Lanka compare to other countries for threatened species?
Sri Lanka ranks #56 of 253 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 1.35% 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 Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.