Conservation & Threats

Are penguin populations declining?

Many penguin populations are declining, though the picture varies by species. African penguin numbers have dropped by more than 95% over the past century. Chinstrap penguin colonies on some Antarctic islands have shrunk by over 75% since the 1970s. Emperor penguins face projected population declines of up to 80% by 2100 under high-warming scenarios. However, some species are stable or increasing — gentoo penguins have expanded their range southward as temperatures rise, and king penguin populations on some sub-Antarctic islands have grown. Overall, a majority of living penguin species show declining or mixed population trends.