A 73% average decline in wildlife populations: an overview of the 2026 Living Planet Index report

Key Points:

• The 2026 Living Planet Index (LPI) reports a 73% average decline in studied wildlife populations (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish) from 1970 to 2022, but this does not indicate species extinctions or total population losses.
• The LPI data covers 35,803 populations and shows that about half of these populations are declining, while the other half are either stable or increasing, highlighting that not all wildlife populations are in decline.
• Changes in the LPI trend line over recent reports are due to expanded data coverage, especially increased representation of African populations and species, rather than recent dramatic declines.
• Misinterpretations of the LPI headline figure often lead to incorrect claims about species loss or extinction rates, but the index measures average population abundance trends, not extinctions or the number of declining species.
• Understanding which populations are declining versus stable or increasing can help target conservation efforts more effectively to populations in greatest need.