Sierra Leone

301 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

301

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

50

Highest risk

Endangered

103

Very high risk

Vulnerable

148

High risk

Declining

55%

167 species

Category Breakdown
CR 50
EN 103
VU 148
CR: 50
EN: 103
VU: 148

Critically Endangered

5017%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

10334%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

14849%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 301 species

Species by Group
🌱

plants

146

146 threatened

🐟

fishes

72

72 threatened

🐾

mammals

26

26 threatened

🐦

birds

17

17 threatened

🦗

insects

17

17 threatened

🐢

reptiles

6

6 threatened

🐚

molluscs

6

6 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

4

4 threatened

🐸

amphibians

3

3 threatened

🦀

crustaceans

3

3 threatened

🕷️

arachnids

1

1 threatened

Global Share

0.54%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#99

of 250 countries

Endemic Threatened

54

Found only here

Top Threats
1.Annual & perennial non-timber crops179 species
2.Logging & wood harvesting178 species
3.Mining & quarrying124 species
4.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources99 species
5.Housing & urban areas97 species
6.Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals55 species
7.Type Unknown/Unrecorded (pollution)51 species
8.Dams & water management/use43 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). Sierra Leone: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/SL

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 Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone has 301 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 50 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 Sierra Leone have?
Of the 301 threatened species in Sierra Leone, 50 are Critically Endangered, 103 are Endangered, and 148 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Sierra Leone?
Among the 50 Critically Endangered species in Sierra Leone, Simirestis staudtii 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 Sierra Leone?
SpeciesRadar does not yet catalogue protected areas for Sierra Leone. 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 Sierra Leone?
The most affected groups in Sierra Leone, by number of threatened species, are plants (146), fishes (72), and mammals (26). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Sierra Leone?
The leading threats to threatened species in Sierra Leone are annual & perennial non-timber crops, logging & wood harvesting, mining & quarrying, and fishing & harvesting aquatic resources. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many threatened species are found only in Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone has 54 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 Sierra Leone's threatened species have declining populations?
167 of Sierra Leone'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 Sierra Leone compare to other countries for threatened species?
Sierra Leone ranks #99 of 250 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 0.54% 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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.