LionAid have produced “A 2025 Assessment of wild lion numbers in Africa“- a comprehensive compilation of wild lion populations (based on available data) remaining in Africa.
The LionAid report makes for alarming reading:
- “A total of just 13,014 lions remain in eastern and southern Africa and 342 in western and central Africa where resident lions are highly genetically distinct. This is a substantial decrease for western and central Africa (410 estimated in the previous estimate).
- Of the 48 African continental nations:
- Wild lions are extinct in 26 countries – 54% of the total
- Wild lions exist only in small, scattered populations, if at all, and are considered highly vulnerable in 12 countries – 25% of the total
- Wild lions still exist in 10 countries – 21% of the total.“
- To also put that “13,014 wild lions” left into perspective, as recently as 2015, WildCRU stated:
“[African] lions are in crisis. Because lions are uniquely visible to tourists there is a false impression that they are not endangered. The opposite is true: they are disappearing in plain sight. From an estimated population of 200,000 across Africa a century ago, and 30,000 a decade ago, as few as 20,000 lions may now roam free in the entire continent. Their numbers have been devastated by loss of habitat and wild prey, poaching, conflict with farming communities, unsustainable legal hunting, and emerging threats including the use of lion bones in traditional Asian medicine. Lions are being killed daily in Africa” – “Lions in trouble….”, WildCRU, 27 October 2015
“The latest IUCN estimates suggest a population of 23,000 – 39,000 African lions (probably closer to the lower estimate), representing a decline of at least 43% between 1993 and 2014 (approximately three lion generations) (Bauer et al. 2016). Most alarmingly, lions are now considered to have been extirpated from at least 92% of their historic range (Bauer et al. 2016)” – “Report on Lion Conservation with Particular Respect to the Issue of Trophy Hunting,” Professor David Macdonald (Director Wild CU) et al., dated 28 November 2016
- “It is highly disappointing to note the quality of surveys involved in estimating lion populations. Very few are scientifically rigorous. Some surveys include cubs while others do not. Most lion estimates are still based on “guesses.”
- Overall, the situation for continued lion survival in Africa is extremely concerning. The lion is the only large cat not given Appendix I protection by CITES and continues to only listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN despite all contrary information. Lion conservation is underfunded and conflicted with several international and local conservation organizations stubbornly promoting trophy hunting as a “conservation” measure. There is very little funding made available for crucial nationwide population surveys conducted to adequate standards.”
Key points LionAid 2025 synthesis of wild lion numbers in remaining African range states