The Biodiversity Of Planet Earth
As of 2025, scientists have cataloged approximately 2.3 million species on Earth, revealing only a fraction of our planet’s true biodiversity. The vast majority – around 1.5 million – are animals, with insects making up a significant portion of that count.
Plants follow with roughly 390,000 documented species, showcasing the incredible diversity of Earth’s flora. Fungi account for about 150,000 species, playing crucial roles in ecosystems as decomposers and symbiotic partners.
Protists, including microscopic algae and amoebas, contribute around 50,000 species, while bacteria and archaea add another 20,000, despite being vastly underexplored.
The remaining ~190,000 species include chromists, viruses, and other life forms. Together, this catalog offers a glimpse into the richness of life, though millions more species likely remain undiscovered.