Structured Lists Directory

Overview

IUCN Red List Conservation Status Categories

The IUCN Red List is an international standard established by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1994 for objectively assessing the extinction risk of species on Earth. It classifies the conservation status of species into nine categories (Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, Data Deficient, and Not Evaluated). Based on quantitative assessment criteria, it is widely used for conservation activities and policy decisions worldwide.

IUCN endangered species biodiversity conservation environment ecology
code slug name description colorCode riskLevel
EX extinct Extinct Species where the last individual has died and no longer survives. #000000 Highest
EW extinct-in-the-wild Extinct in the Wild Species that survive only in captivity, cultivation, or outside their natural range. #542344 Extremely High
CR critically-endangered Critically Endangered Species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. #D81E05 Extremely High
EN endangered Endangered Species facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. #FC7F3F Very High
VU vulnerable Vulnerable Species facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. #F9E814 High
NT near-threatened Near Threatened Species likely to qualify for threatened categories in the near future. #CCE226 Moderate
LC least-concern Least Concern Species with the lowest risk of extinction, widespread and abundant. #60C659 Low
DD data-deficient Data Deficient Species with insufficient information to assess extinction risk. #D1D1D1 Unknown
NE not-evaluated Not Evaluated Species not yet evaluated against the IUCN Red List criteria. #FFFFFF Not Evaluated

The nine categories of conservation status defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).