1. World Wildlife Magazine
  2. Spring 2022

Doubling down

Two young tigers romping

In 2010, the world’s 13 tiger range countries made a landmark commitment to double the number of wild tigers by 2022. While some tiger populations have grown significantly since, with upward trends in India, Bhutan, Nepal, China, and Russia, these big cats are still widely threatened—and increasingly isolated—in Southeast Asia in particular. Here’s how far we’ve come.

Map of tiger territory in 2022
Tiger landscapes
1
65

The tiger population of northern India’s Pilibhit Tiger Reserve. The areas surrounding this narrow reserve support some of the highest human population densities of all tiger conservation landscapes.

2
55

Number of tigers identified by camera trap surveys near the Russian border in northeast China between 2013 and 2018.

3

The Transboundary Manas Conservation Area is a tiger hot spot straddling Bhutan and India. An estimated 48 tigers now live in India’s Manas National Park alone.

4

Spanning more than 6,950 square miles of intact forest, Thailand’s vast Western Forest Complex is the largest contiguous tiger habitat in Southeast Asia—and a vital stronghold for the landscape’s tigers.

Global tiger numbers

tiger drawing
2 0 1 0
3,200
2 0 1 6
3,900
2 0 2 2
GOAL6,400 ACTUAL: TO BE ANNOUNCED ahead of the Global Tiger Summit in September 2022

Latest tiger estimates* + status by country

INDIA2,603–3,346 (2018)
RUSSIA~580 (2020)
NEPAL220–274 (2018)
BHUTAN89–124 (2014)
CHINATO BE COUNTED
THAILAND145–177 (2021)
BANGLADESH89–146 (2018)
INDONESIA600 (2018)
MYANMARAT LEAST 22 (2018)
MALAYSIA<200 (to be counted)
VIET NAM0
LAO PDR0
CAMBODIA0

* Based on best available data, including official government estimates where relevant

Increasing   Decreasing  
Stable  
Not Determined   Extinct

Explore More

About
World Wildlife magazine provides an inspiring, in-depth look at the connections between animals, people and our planet. Published quarterly by WWF, the magazine helps make you a part of our efforts to solve some of the most pressing issues facing the natural world.

View all issues