New Delhi: Snow leopards, the majestic beauty, live in the altitudes in Asia’s mountainous regions. These cats find plenty of prey and places to take cover in these regions. Due to their declining numbers, snow leopards are named vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. But do you know where most snow leopards live? In this article let us look at the population of snow leopards worldwide.
List of countries with the most snow leopard population
| Country | Snow Leopard Population |
| China | 4,500 |
| Mongolia | 1,000 |
| India | 516–524 |
| Nepal | 301–400 |
| Pakistan | 250–420 |
| Tajikistan | 250–280 |
| Kazakhstan | 100–120 |
| Bhutan | 79–112 |
| Afghanistan | 50–200 |
| Russia | 70–90 |
| Uzbekistan | 30–120 |
Source: World Population Review
Note: The data is from 2023, but according to the World Population Review, some numbers have not been confirmed since the 1990s.
On this World Snow Leopard Day let’s protect the mystic habitants of the snowy mountains and raise awareness on Conservation and Protection of #snowleopards. The #snowleopard acts as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live #wildlife #bigcat #nature pic.twitter.com/oTKL8BvxZu
— Zoological Survey of India (@ZoologicalI) October 23, 2024
Snow Leopard Population by Country
The big cats can be seen on the Asian continent, and it is important to see their numbers. The numbers show the need for snow leopard conservation and for removing them from the vulnerable IUCN Red List.
According to the data, the total number of snow leopards in the world is 4,000 to 6,500. According to data released in 2016, China currently has the largest population of snow leopards, approximately 2,000 to 4,500. Mongolia and India have the second and third-highest populations of snow leopards, respectively.
Snow leopards have declined in 25 years by around 20 per cent, but they are growing in some areas.
In Bhutan, snow leopard populations have risen by around 40 per cent since 2016.
The population in Himachal Pradesh, India, region has grown by 18 per cent.
However, snow leopards still face climate change, deforestation, and poaching threats. If we protect their habitats and reduce poaching, their numbers could rise significantly.
