Zambia

173 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

173

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

24

Highest risk

Endangered

64

Very high risk

Vulnerable

85

High risk

Declining

49%

84 species

Category Breakdown
CR 24
EN 64
VU 85
CR: 24
EN: 64
VU: 85

Critically Endangered

2414%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

6437%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

8549%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 173 species

Species by Group
🌱

plants

79

79 threatened

🐟

fishes

29

29 threatened

🐦

birds

21

21 threatened

🐾

mammals

13

13 threatened

🦗

insects

11

11 threatened

🐚

molluscs

7

7 threatened

🐢

reptiles

5

5 threatened

🍄

fungi

4

4 threatened

🐸

amphibians

2

2 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

2

2 threatened

Global Share

0.31%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#147

of 250 countries

Endemic Threatened

23

Found only here

Top Threats
1.Annual & perennial non-timber crops95 species
2.Logging & wood harvesting64 species
3.Housing & urban areas40 species
4.Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources39 species
5.Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals29 species
6.Mining & quarrying25 species
7.Livestock farming & ranching24 species
8.Agricultural & forestry effluents23 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). Zambia: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/ZM

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 Zambia?
Zambia has 173 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 24 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 Zambia have?
Of the 173 threatened species in Zambia, 24 are Critically Endangered, 64 are Endangered, and 85 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Zambia?
Among the 24 Critically Endangered species in Zambia, Neolebias lozii 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 Zambia?
SpeciesRadar does not yet catalogue protected areas for Zambia. 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 Zambia?
The most affected groups in Zambia, by number of threatened species, are plants (79), fishes (29), and birds (21). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Zambia?
The leading threats to threatened species in Zambia are annual & perennial non-timber crops, logging & wood harvesting, housing & urban areas, 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 Zambia?
Zambia has 23 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 Zambia's threatened species have declining populations?
84 of Zambia'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 Zambia compare to other countries for threatened species?
Zambia ranks #147 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 Zambia 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 Zambia profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.