WWF report reveals 73 percent decline in wildlife populations over 52 years

A new report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for 2026 reveals that global wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73 percent over the last 52 years. Based on the Living Planet Index (LPI) developed by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the study tracked population trends for 5,790 vertebrate species from 1970 to 2022.

The most significant losses occurred in freshwater ecosystems, which saw an average decline of 85 percent. Terrestrial ecosystems experienced a 69 percent drop, while marine species declined by 59 percent. Researchers noted that while the overall trend is negative, half of the monitored populations remained stable or showed growth, suggesting that the total average is heavily influenced by massive declines in specific groups.

Complementary research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B by the Zoological Society of London and Monash University suggests that recovery is possible even for species with fewer than 50 individuals. The study found that 61 percent of species receiving direct intervention, such as habitat restoration and predator control, successfully increased their numbers to at least 100 individuals. For example, a rare bird on Lord Howe Island grew from 23 individuals in the 1970s to over 1,600 today.