WWF Living Planet Report finds 73% average decline in wildlife populations since 1970

WWF Living Planet Report finds 73% average decline in wildlife populations since 1970

The WWF's biennial Living Planet Report 2026 found that the average size of monitored wild vertebrate populations, covering mammals, birds, fish and amphibians, fell by 73 per cent between 1970 and 2022. The Living Planet Index behind the finding, compiled by the Zoological Society of London from over 35,800 population trends across 5,790 species, found the steepest declines in freshwater ecosystems at 85 per cent, followed by terrestrial ecosystems at 69 per cent and marine ecosystems at 59 per cent. The report also highlighted recoveries in tiger, green turtle and southern African elephant populations.