Our World in Data · People & society

Understanding the Living Planet Index's 73% Wildlife Decline Figure

The 2026 Living Planet Index (LPI) report indicates a 73% average decline in studied wildlife populations since 1970. However, this headline figure is often misunderstood.

The 73% figure represents the average decline across 35,803 monitored populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, not invertebrates or plants. It does not signify the number of species lost, extinctions, or the percentage of populations declining.

The LPI is calculated by collecting data on wildlife population changes over time, using 1970 as a baseline. Researchers compute the geometric mean of these changes across all populations, with some populations receiving different weights.

The reported 73% decline is consistent with the 2024 report, but this does not mean populations have remained static since then. The entire trend line has shifted due to increased data from more populations and species, particularly a substantial rise in data from Africa.

Contrary to common interpretation, the 73% average decline does not mean most populations are decreasing. In fact, across the dataset, 50% of populations were in decline, 43% were increasing, and 7% were stable.

Understanding that roughly half of monitored populations are increasing or stable, alongside those in decline, is crucial for directing conservation efforts more effectively to the populations and regions most in need.

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