Comparisons & Records

Which penguin species has the largest population?

The macaroni penguin has the largest population of any penguin species, with an estimated 6.3 million breeding pairs (roughly 12.6 million adults). They breed on sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula in colonies that can number in the hundreds of thousands. The chinstrap penguin is the second most abundant, with an estimated 8 million individuals. Despite their large total numbers, macaroni penguins are listed as Vulnerable because their populations have been declining. The species with the smallest population is the Galapagos penguin, with only about 1,200 individuals.