NCI 2024
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    Fishes Per Country

    Crucial for global food security and ecosystem balance, they face dire threats!

    Spanning from the technicolor inhabitants of coral reefs to the shadowy figures of the deep sea, fish are fundamental to the vibrancy and function of aquatic environments. Their roles are multifaceted, involving the cycling of nutrients, preservation of water quality, and anchoring of food chains that extend from microscopic plankton to apex marine predators.

    The vitality of fish populations is a global concern, with challenges such as unsustainable fishing practices, the degradation of aquatic habitats, pollution, and climate change-induced alterations casting long shadows. Achieving a nuanced comprehension of the varied species and their conservation needs across Earth’s oceans and freshwater habitats is imperative for their safeguarding.

    The table below shows the number of known fish species in different countries, how many of them are Threatened with extinction, and how many are Endemic species (unique to one single country).

    The table is sorted from the highest diversity to the lowest:

    # Country Species Threatened % Threatened Endemic % Endemic
    1
    Australia    		 5053 210 4.2% 570 11.3%
    2
    Indonesia    		 4899 357 7.3% 141 2.9%
    3
    Brazil    		 4883 393 8.0% 404 8.3%
    4
    Japan    		 4164 170 4.1% 42 1.0%
    5
    China    		 3568 265 7.4% 147 4.1%
    6
    Philippines    		 3463 147 4.2% 129 3.7%
    7
    United States    		 3089 274 8.9% 373 12.1%
    8
    Taiwan    		 2974 149 5.0% 18 0.6%
    9
    Papua New Guinea    		 2890 133 4.6% 73 2.5%
    10
    India    		 2666 317 11.9% 200 7.5%
    11
    Mexico    		 2646 279 10.5% 228 8.6%
    12
    Vietnam    		 2427 154 6.3% 221 9.1%
    13
    New Caledonia    		 2416 59 2.4% 10 0.4%
    14
    Thailand    		 2163 160 7.4% 21 1.0%
    15
    Colombia    		 2144 159 7.4% 84 3.9%
    16
    South Africa    		 2097 139 6.6% 75 3.6%
    17
    Malaysia    		 1960 161 8.2% 50 2.6%
    18
    Mozambique    		 1785 103 5.8% 32 1.8%
    19
    Tanzania    		 1774 211 11.9% 108 6.1%
    20
    Venezuela    		 1764 125 7.1% 70 4.0%
    21
    Peru    		 1607 93 5.8% 86 5.4%
    22
    DR Congo    		 1552 124 8.0% 373 24.0%
    23
    Palau    		 1549 36 2.3% 11 0.7%
    24
    Panama    		 1439 103 7.2% 30 2.1%
    25
    Hong Kong    		 1354 77 5.7% 3 0.2%
    26
    Fiji    		 1313 48 3.7% 4 0.3%
    27
    Micronesia    		 1236 38 3.1% 6 0.5%
    28
    Madagascar    		 1204 107 8.9% 84 7.0%
    29
    Seychelles    		 1177 43 3.7% 15 1.3%
    30
    Tonga    		 1143 22 1.9% 8 0.7%
    31
    Sri Lanka    		 1138 113 9.9% 37 3.3%
    32
    Costa Rica    		 1128 96 8.5% 23 2.0%
    33
    Maldives    		 1121 45 4.0% 2 0.2%
    34
    Myanmar    		 1120 72 6.4% 58 5.2%
    35
    Ecuador    		 1115 70 6.3% 29 2.6%
    36
    New Zealand    		 1110 48 4.3% 99 8.9%
    37
    Mauritius    		 1108 57 5.1% 5 0.5%
    37
    South Korea    		 1108 75 6.8% 23 2.1%
    39
    Canada    		 1106 57 5.2% 6 0.5%
    40
    Cuba    		 1105 72 6.5% 23 2.1%
    41
    East Timor    		 1091 25 2.3% 3 0.3%
    42
    Nicaragua    		 1078 81 7.5% 6 0.6%
    43
    Cameroon    		 1065 143 13.4% 120 11.3%
    43
    Oman    		 1065 77 7.2% 11 1.0%
    45
    Kenya    		 1064 121 11.4% 27 2.5%
    46
    Honduras    		 1043 62 5.9% 7 0.7%
    46
    Suriname    		 1043 66 6.3% 12 1.2%
    48
    Argentina    		 1031 123 11.9% 34 3.3%
    49
    Guam    		 1008 28 2.8% 2 0.2%
    50
    Guyana    		 1001 76 7.6% 21 2.1%
    51
    Trinidad and Tobago    		 991 67 6.8% 2 0.2%
    52
    Solomon Islands    		 989 18 1.8% 15 1.5%
    53
    Russia    		 985 65 6.6% 37 3.8%
    54
    Angola    		 977 76 7.8% 72 7.4%
    55
    Egypt    		 972 78 8.0% 3 0.3%
    56
    Marshall Islands    		 958 26 2.7% 8 0.8%
    57
    Samoa    		 957 26 2.7% 0 0.0%
    58
    French Polynesia    		 933 38 4.1% 6 0.6%
    59
    Cambodia    		 926 73 7.9% 10 1.1%
    60
    Guatemala    		 907 66 7.3% 11 1.2%
    61
    Bahamas    		 890 54 6.1% 13 1.5%
    62
    Saudi Arabia    		 875 64 7.3% 24 2.7%
    63
    Turkey    		 871 162 18.6% 53 6.1%
    64
    Vanuatu    		 861 20 2.3% 10 1.2%
    65
    Somalia    		 845 61 7.2% 16 1.9%
    66
    Congo    		 839 72 8.6% 40 4.8%
    67
    Gabon    		 819 93 11.4% 72 8.8%
    68
    Spain    		 813 104 12.8% 6 0.7%
    69
    Guinea    		 808 101 12.5% 38 4.7%
    70
    France    		 806 80 9.9% 4 0.5%
    71
    Puerto Rico    		 803 38 4.7% 2 0.2%
    72
    Senegal    		 789 87 11.0% 2 0.3%
    73
    Nort. Mariana Is.    		 788 25 3.2% 5 0.6%
    74
    Chile    		 782 58 7.4% 25 3.2%
    75
    Nigeria    		 772 89 11.5% 21 2.7%
    76
    Yemen    		 753 50 6.6% 3 0.4%
    77
    Morocco    		 738 85 11.5% 18 2.4%
    78
    American Samoa     		735 22 3.0% 2 0.3%
    79
    Singapore    		 727 48 6.6% 2 0.3%
    80
    Pakistan    		 724 92 12.7% 31 4.3%
    81
    Israel    		 723 77 10.7% 16 2.2%
    81
    Uruguay    		 723 83 11.5% 3 0.4%
    83
    Mauritania    		 711 76 10.7% 1 0.1%
    84
    Ghana    		 693 74 10.7% 9 1.3%
    85
    Iran    		 685 58 8.5% 23 3.4%
    86
    Sierra Leone    		 683 75 11.0% 14 2.0%
    87
    Guinea-Bissau    		 677 68 10.0% 0 0.0%
    88
    Belize    		 675 55 8.1% 8 1.2%
    89
    Ivory Coast    		 674 80 11.9% 12 1.8%
    90
    Namibia    		 665 48 7.2% 6 0.9%
    91
    Greece    		 647 103 15.9% 25 3.9%
    92
    Jamaica    		 635 41 6.5% 3 0.5%
    93
    Cabo Verde    		 632 61 9.7% 17 2.7%
    94
    Italy    		 627 76 12.1% 10 1.6%
    95
    Curacao    		 625 39 6.2% 5 0.8%
    96
    Liberia    		 612 78 12.7% 8 1.3%
    97
    Benin    		 597 61 10.2% 2 0.3%
    98
    El Salvador    		 586 33 5.6% 2 0.3%
    99
    Bangladesh    		 582 37 6.4% 17 2.9%
    100
    Gambia    		 579 68 11.7% 0 0.0%
    101
    Laos    		 576 62 10.8% 103 17.9%
    102
    Aruba    		 574 44 7.7% 0 0.0%
    103
    Equatorial Guinea    		 573 65 11.3% 10 1.7%
    104
    Virgin Islands (U.S.)    		 568 37 6.5% 1 0.2%
    105
    Comoros    		 566 21 3.7% 4 0.7%
    106
    Togo    		 565 57 10.1% 2 0.4%
    107
    Portugal    		 562 69 12.3% 4 0.7%
    108
    Jordan    		 555 41 7.4% 4 0.7%
    109
    Kiribati    		 535 21 3.9% 8 1.5%
    110
    Dominican Republic    		 531 38 7.2% 8 1.5%
    110
    Haiti    		 531 46 8.7% 12 2.3%
    112
    Barbados    		 527 38 7.2% 0 0.0%
    113
    Kuwait    		 521 36 6.9% 2 0.4%
    114
    United Arab Emirates    		 519 37 7.1% 0 0.0%
    115
    Bahrain    		 509 35 6.9% 0 0.0%
    116
    Dominica    		 503 34 6.8% 0 0.0%
    117
    Brunei    		 501 25 5.0% 1 0.2%
    118
    Qatar    		 500 38 7.6% 0 0.0%
    119
    Antigua and Barbuda    		 499 35 7.0% 0 0.0%
    120
    Grenada    		 496 37 7.5% 1 0.2%
    121
    Saint Lucia    		 494 35 7.1% 0 0.0%
    122
    Malawi    		 487 42 8.6% 181 37.2%
    123
    St. Vincent and the Grenadines    		 486 35 7.2% 1 0.2%
    124
    Algeria    		 482 69 14.3% 13 2.7%
    125
    Sudan    		 481 34 7.1% 8 1.7%
    126
    British Virgin Islands    		 478 33 6.9% 0 0.0%
    127
    Bermuda    		 474 36 7.6% 5 1.1%
    127
    Cayman Islands    		 474 42 8.9% 3 0.6%
    129
    St. Kitts and Nevis    		 459 33 7.2% 0 0.0%
    130
    Albania    		 427 66 15.5% 2 0.5%
    131
    Croatia    		 423 77 18.2% 8 1.9%
    132
    United Kingdom    		 420 56 13.3% 9 2.1%
    133
    Bolivia    		 418 16 3.8% 13 3.1%
    134
    Zambia    		 417 22 5.3% 42 10.1%
    135
    Syria    		 410 67 16.3% 8 2.0%
    136
    Ireland    		 402 46 11.4% 3 0.7%
    137
    Djibouti    		 398 37 9.3% 1 0.3%
    137
    Slovenia    		 398 58 14.6% 1 0.3%
    139
    Turks and Caicos    		 380 30 7.9% 0 0.0%
    140
    Eritrea    		 366 30 8.2% 2 0.5%
    140
    Tunisia    		 366 58 15.8% 2 0.5%
    142
    Sao Tome and Principe    		 357 45 12.6% 4 1.1%
    143
    Bosnia and Herz.    		 337 60 17.8% 1 0.3%
    144
    Gibraltar    		 332 44 13.3% 0 0.0%
    145
    Montenegro    		 331 48 14.5% 0 0.0%
    146
    Lebanon    		 327 50 15.3% 1 0.3%
    147
    Malta    		 322 53 16.5% 0 0.0%
    148
    Iraq    		 313 35 11.2% 1 0.3%
    149
    North Korea    		 308 33 10.7% 1 0.3%
    150
    Iceland    		 299 24 8.0% 2 0.7%
    151
    Norway    		 294 29 9.9% 1 0.3%
    152
    Uganda    		 292 74 25.3% 21 7.2%
    153
    Monaco    		 290 52 17.9% 0 0.0%
    154
    Libya    		 288 48 16.7% 1 0.3%
    155
    Cyprus    		 283 38 13.4% 0 0.0%
    156
    Paraguay    		 264 17 6.4% 6 2.3%
    157
    Sweden    		 247 29 11.7% 2 0.8%
    158
    Germany    		 245 32 13.1% 6 2.4%
    159
    Burundi    		 244 17 7.0% 6 2.5%
    160
    Ukraine    		 240 25 10.4% 1 0.4%
    161
    Bulgaria    		 221 19 8.6% 1 0.5%
    161
    Denmark    		 221 26 11.8% 0 0.0%
    163
    Netherlands    		 211 24 11.4% 0 0.0%
    164
    Romania    		 206 20 9.7% 3 1.5%
    165
    Nepal    		 203 13 6.4% 4 2.0%
    166
    Central Af. Rep.    		 202 2 1.0% 12 5.9%
    167
    Tuvalu    		 194 16 8.2% 0 0.0%
    168
    Belgium    		 193 21 10.9% 0 0.0%
    169
    Ethiopia    		 175 14 8.0% 42 24.0%
    170
    Macao, China    		 146 35 24.0% 0 0.0%
    170
    Zimbabwe    		 146 6 4.1% 0 0.0%
    172
    Poland    		 144 11 7.6% 0 0.0%
    173
    Mali    		 139 2 1.4% 2 1.4%
    174
    Chad    		 136 2 1.5% 0 0.0%
    175
    Georgia    		 134 16 11.9% 0 0.0%
    176
    Afghanistan    		 125 15 12.0% 0 0.0%
    177
    Burkina Faso    		 122 3 2.5% 3 2.5%
    178
    Kazakhstan    		 118 19 16.1% 1 0.8%
    179
    Latvia    		 113 6 5.3% 0 0.0%
    180
    Niger    		 104 2 1.9% 0 0.0%
    181
    Finland    		 101 7 6.9% 0 0.0%
    181
    South Sudan    		 101 1 1.0% 2 2.0%
    183
    Lithuania    		 97 6 6.2% 0 0.0%
    184
    Serbia    		 94 9 9.6% 0 0.0%
    185
    Austria    		 93 9 9.7% 3 3.2%
    186
    Slovakia    		 92 7 7.6% 0 0.0%
    187
    Azerbaijan    		 88 13 14.8% 0 0.0%
    187
    Switzerland    		 88 8 9.1% 12 13.6%
    189
    Botswana    		 87 3 3.4% 0 0.0%
    189
    Uzbekistan    		 87 10 11.5% 0 0.0%
    191
    Nauru    		 86 7 8.1% 0 0.0%
    192
    Hungary    		 83 6 7.2% 0 0.0%
    193
    Mongolia    		 82 5 6.1% 4 4.9%
    194
    Czech Republic    		 80 4 5.0% 0 0.0%
    195
    Rwanda    		 73 8 11.0% 5 6.8%
    196
    Estonia    		 72 3 4.2% 0 0.0%
    197
    Turkmenistan    		 67 14 20.9% 1 1.5%
    198
    Moldova    		 62 7 11.3% 0 0.0%
    199
    Belarus    		 58 3 5.2% 0 0.0%
    200
    Eswatini    		 56 4 7.1% 0 0.0%
    200
    North Macedonia    		 56 11 19.6% 0 0.0%
    202
    Armenia    		 55 3 5.5% 1 1.8%
    203
    Bhutan    		 52 4 7.7% 1 1.9%
    204
    Kyrgyztan    		 31 6 19.4% 0 0.0%
    205
    Liechtenstein    		 14 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
    205
    Luxembourg    		 14 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
    207
    Lesotho    		 12 2 16.7% 0 0.0%
    208
    Andorra    		 7 0 0.0% 0 0.0%
    209
    Tajikistan    		 4 1 25.0% 0 0.0%

    • Data taken from FishBase, April 2024.
    • Different sources provide varying data as biological taxonomy frequently changes with new species discoveries and reclassifications of organisms.