Top 10 Biodiversity Countries in the World

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, including animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. It measures variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level. Brazil has the most diverse flora and fauna in the world, with over 10% of the world’s known species living there.

In this article, we will discuss the top 10 Biodiversity Countries in the World.

List of Top 10 Biodiversity Countries in the World

Seventeen countries are considered to be megadiverse, meaning they contain a significant portion of the world’s biodiversity. These countries include Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Mexico, Madagascar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, India, China, Australia, Congo, and South Africa.

Given below is the list of top 10 biodiverse countries in the world:

Rank	Country	Biodiversity Index
1	Brazil	512.34
2	Indonesia	418.78
3	Colombia	369.76
4	China	365.84
5	Peru	342.47
6	Mexico	337.18
7	Australia	330.12
8	India	301.63
9	Ecuador	291.58
10	United States	280.13

Let’s learn about each of these countries in detail.

10. United States

According to the World Atlas says that the US has 844 bird species, 326 amphibian species, 3,081 fish species, 531 mammal species, and 556 reptile species. The US also has 15,500 vascular plant species. There are about 400 national parks, including deserts, canyons, woodlands, glaciers, plains, and mountains.

• California is considered the most biodiverse state in the US and has the largest variety of plants and animals in the country, with about 6,500 plant types, including about 40% that are only found in the state.
• California also has the world’s oldest, largest, and tallest trees.
• A 2023 report from the Center for Biological Diversity found that 40% of animals, 34% of plants, and 40% of ecosystems in the United States are at risk.
• The United States ranks high in terms of fish species due to its diverse freshwater and marine ecosystems. The United States has over 1,200 fish species, including about 790 temperate freshwater fish species. Around 90% of these fish are non-game fish.

9. Ecuador

Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with around 6.1% of all reported species. Ecuador’s biodiversity is due to its location in the neotropics, the presence of the Andes, and the influence of the ocean’s currents on its coasts. 

• It has 26 different habitat types, including three of the world’s 10 biodiversity “hot spots”.  These hotspots includes the Amazon Rainforest, the Andean highlands, coastal mangrove ecosystems, and its famous cloud forests.
• Ecuador also has around 25,000 plant species.  The country is estimated to have more plant species per unit area than any other South American country. It covers two of the five biodiversity hotspots in South America: the Tropical Andes and the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena Corridor.
• More than 20% of marine species in the Galápagos are found nowhere else on Earth, including the giant Galapagos tortoise, marine iguana, flightless cormorant, and the Galapagos penguin.
• Ecuador’s biodiversity is threatened by: Land use changes, Invasive species, Overexploitation, Pollution, Climate change.

8. India

India is the eighth most biodiverse country in the world. It’s considered a “megadiverse” country, which means it’s one of the most ecologically dynamic and varied countries in the world. India has 8.1% of the world’s species diversity, even though it only has 2.4% of the world’s land area. The country ranks fifth for reptiles, tenth for birds, and seventh for mammals in terms of biodiversity richness

• India hosts four of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots: Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats, and Sri Lanka-Sundaland.
• India’s protected area network comprises 102 national parks, 517 wildlife sanctuaries, four community reserves, 56 conservation reserves, 39 tiger reserves, 28 elephant reserves, and six world heritage sites.
• It has a wide range of biomes, including deserts, mountains, highlands, forests, and swamps. India is home to 102,718 species of fauna, including elephants, rhinos, lions, and tigers
• India is a megadiverse country, with 45,500 species of plants and 91,200 species of animals.

7. Australia

Australia is a megadiverse country, with 7–10% of the world’s species. It’s home to 84% of plant species, mammals, and 45% of birds. The country and its surrounding seas support 600,000–700,000 native species, with a very high proportion found nowhere else.  Australia’s biodiversity has developed over millions of years, largely in isolation.

• 85% of Australia’s plant species are endemic to the continent, and Australia is home to half of the world’s marsupial species.
• Australia’s biodiversity includes: Terrestrial ecosystems: Ranging from dry deserts to tropical rainforests, Marine ecosystems: Including the Great Barrier Reef and animal life including 250 species of native mammals, 550 species of land and aquatic birds, 680 species of reptiles, 190 species of frogs, and more than 2,000 species of marine and freshwater fish.
• Australia is a leader in the world for reptiles and fish, according to The Reptile Database and FishBase.
• Australia’s ecosystems contain elements that are vital for Indigenous people as food and medicine. It’s estimated that around 4,000 different plant species are used, which is around 20% of named Australian vascular plants.

6. Mexico

Mexico is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, with 10–12% of the world’s biodiversity. It’s home to over 200,000 species, including 1,500 species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

• Mexico is known for its high number of endemism with 77% of cacti species, 32% of mammal species, 11% of bird species, and 15% of total plant species consumed worldwide.
• Mexico also ranks first in reptiles, second in mammals, fourth in amphibians, fourth in amphibians and vascular plants, and tenth in birds.
• Mexico’s biodiversity is due to a number of factors, including:
  • Mexico is located in the tropics, which are more biodiverse.
  • When North and South America first made contact, a transition zone with a rich mixture of fauna and flora originated.
  • Has complex topography, climate and evolutionary history.
• Mexico has designated over 170,000 square kilometers of land to Protected Natural Areas, including 34 biospheres and 64 national parks.

5. Peru

Peru is one of the five most biologically diverse countries in the world. It is considered a megadiverse country, which is one of 17 countries that contain over 70% of the world’s biodiversity. It’s home to 10% of the world’s plant species, 20% of the world’s butterfly species, and 1,816 bird species. Peru also has the world’s greatest climate range and is home to 84 of the world’s 117 life zones.

• Peru also has the second largest Amazon forest, which contributes to 70% of the world’s biodiversity.
• Peru’s biodiversity is increasing, with the number of wild flora and fauna species rising to 20,585 and 5,585, respectively. However, the IUCN Red List indicates that the number of threatened species has also increased.
• Peru has the fourth-most tropical forests of any country and the ninth-most forest area.
• The Andean Páramo is a unique ecosystem located in the Andes of Northern Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and some small areas in Central America.
• According to a report Andean Páramo is very likely to be the fastest evolving biodiversity hotspot on Earth.

4. China

China is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, with over 38,000 animal species and more than 44,000 plant species. China is home to around 10% of the world’s known species, including 13.3% of the world’s algae species, 14.7% of its bird species, and 12.1% of its fish species. China’s biodiversity is reflected in its traditional culture, which includes the aphorisms “Man is an integral part of nature”, “Dao follows the laws of nature”, and “All beings are equal”

• Forest cover accounts for 20.36% of China’s total land area. The country’s grasslands are the dominant landscape, accounting for 40% of the national land area.
• China is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world because:
  • China is one of the few countries with the diverse climate zones, from tropical to cold temperate.
  • Around 40% of China’s land surface is above 2,000 meters in elevation, creating a wide range of habitats for diverse species.
  • China is home to four of the world’s biodiversity hotspots: Indo-Burma, Mountains of Southwest China, Eastern Himalaya, and Mountains of Central Asia.
• In 2023, China’s government approved the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030) to improve the country’s biodiversity governance.

3. Colombia

Colombia is the third most biodiverse country in the world, with over 56,000 species. It has the most bird, amphibian, butterfly, and frog species in the world. Colombia also has the largest number of hummingbirds on the planet. It’s also the most biodiverse country per square kilometer.

•  As of 2021, Colombia has registered around 63,000 species, of which 14% are endemic.
• Colombia’s biodiversity rankings:
  • First: Number of orchids, birds, and butterflies
  • Second: Plants, amphibians, and fresh water fish
  • Third: Species of palm trees and reptiles
  • Sixth: Biodiversity of mammals
• Colombia’s location in the middle of South America, the Antilles, and part of Central America has led to a wide distribution of animals and plants. The country has many different landscapes, including moorlands, jungles, savannahs, forests, wetlands, and plains.
• Colombia has 311 types of coastal and continental ecosystems. It is also the country with the most paramos in the world.
• The country’s large watersheds feed into the four massive sub-continental basins of the Amazon, Orinoco, Caribbean, Magdalena-Cauca and the Pacific.

2. Indonesia

Indonesia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, after Brazil. It’s home to 12% of the world’s mammals, 16% of its reptiles, and 10% of its flower species. Indonesia is also home to 36% of its 1,531 bird species and 39% of its 515 mammal species.

• Indonesia is one of 17 “megadiverse” countries, with two of the world’s 25 biodiversity “hotspots” and 18 of the World Wildlife Fund’s “Global 200” ecoregions. It’s also home to 370 ethnic groups, the third highest cultural diversity worldwide.
• Indonesia’s vegetation is similar to that of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. It has about 40,000 species of flowering plants, including 5,000 species of orchids. 
• It’s also home to the world’s largest flower, the monster flower (Rafflesia arnoldii).

1. Brazil

Brazil is one of 17 megadiverse countries in the world, with 15–20% of the world’s biological diversity. This includes over 120,000 invertebrate species, about 9,000 vertebrate species, and over 4,000 plant species. Brazil’s biodiversity is constantly growing, with an average of 700 new animal species discovered each year.

• Brazil has the most known species of plants, estimated at 55,000. It also has more than 50,000 species of trees and bushes.
• Has the most species of freshwater fish, estimated at 3,000.
• Brazil has the most species of known mammals, estimated at over 689 and has 1,188 known species of amphibians.
• It has 430 known species of snakes and 90,000 known species of insects.
•  Brazil is home to 60% of the Amazon Rainforest, which is home to about one-tenth of all the world’s species.
• Brazil has 1,971 known species of birds, ranking third in the world and 848 known species of reptiles, ranking third in the world.
• Brazil’s biodiversity has the potential to boost economic growth and social inclusion. However, its wildlife is threatened by deforestation and poaching.

FAQs on Top 10 Biodiversity Countries in the World

Which country has highest biodiversity?

Brazil is the most biodiverse country in the world. It has one-tenth of the world’s overall species, including 55,000 plant species, 3,000 freshwater fish, and 700 mammals.

What is the rank of India in biodiversity?

India is the world’s eighth most biodiverse region, with a 0.46 BioD score on the diversity index. India is considered a “megadiverse” country, meaning it is one of the most varied and ecologically dynamic countries in the world.

What are the 17 megadiverse countries?

The United Nations Environment Program’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) has identified 17 megadiverse countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, United States, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Venezuela.

What is the least biodiverse country?

Nauru, Tuvalu, and Sint Maarten (Dutch) are the least biodiverse countries. 

What is the second most biodiverse country?

Indonesia is the second most biodiverse country in the world. Indonesia is spread across 17,000 islands and is home to over 19,000 plant species, 10% of the world’s flower species, and 12% of its mammals.

Why is Brazil the most biodiverse?

Brazil is considered to have the highest biodiversity in the world because of its large size and varied ecosystem.