From Ants to Whales - The Astonishing Count of Animals on Our Planet

How many animals are there on Earth? There is no single reliable count of every living animal. A useful answer distinguishes the number of species from the number of individual animals, and treats worldwide population figures as estimates rather than a census.

Species and individuals are different counts

A species count asks how many kinds of animal exist. A population count asks how many individual animals are alive. A third measure, biomass, asks how much those organisms weigh. These measures answer different questions and should not be added together.

What can researchers estimate?

A 2022 study published in PNAS estimated approximately 20 quadrillion ants worldwide. The researchers combined observations from 489 studies and extrapolated beyond the sampled areas. They also identified gaps in the available evidence. This is an estimate for ants, not a total for all insects or all animals.

For any global estimate, ask which organisms and habitats were included, how the observations were collected, and when the study was published. A striking number without those details can be misleading.

Why counting wildlife matters

The question is not only how many creatures exist, but how their populations change. Comparing observations gathered with consistent methods is more useful than presenting unrelated estimates as an exact worldwide total.

Frequently asked questions

Are humans included in animal counts?

Humans are mammals. A count must state whether it includes people, domesticated animals, wild animals, or some combination of these groups.

Does a large population mean a species is safe?

A population figure alone does not describe its trend, geographic range, or threats. Always check the context before drawing a conservation conclusion.

A small reminder of wildlife

Animals inspire RoyaltyOak's designs. Explore our animal jewelry collection, or read about giraffe jewelry symbolism before choosing a piece that feels personal to you.

Research reference: Schultheiss and colleagues, 2022, The abundance, biomass, and distribution of ants on Earth, PNAS. Content reviewed October 2026.