Country rankings

Lion Population by Country

Tanzania has the highest Estimated Lion Population (14,500), followed by South Africa (3,284) and Botswana (3,063). Gabon has the lowest (2).

EnvironmentFacts & Trivia26 countries · 1 metricUpdated Jun 19, 2025Original page
4 sources
Estimated Lion PopulationBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
26 of 235 countries
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Estimated Lion Population

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 26 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one country; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
240
Middle half 66.25 – 1,146
Average
1,277
26 countries
Highest
14,500
Tanzania
Lowest
2
Gabon

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

26 countries · # = rank by Estimated Lion Population
#
1Tanzania14,500
2South Africa3,284
3Botswana3,063
4Kenya2,515
5Zambia2,349
6Zimbabwe1,362
7Ethiopia1,239
8South Sudan866
9Namibia801
10Mozambique678
11India674
12Uganda493
13Cameroon270
14DR Congo210
15Sudan183
16Burkina Faso155
17Niger134
18Benin120
19Chad115
20Nigeria50
21Rwanda40
22Angola35
23Senegal30
24Malawi17
25Central African Republic10
26Gabon2

What correlates with Estimated Lion Population?

Pearson r against 1,462 other country metrics sharing at least 16 countries. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Estimated Lion Population tend to score higher on these

  1. Lion PopulationPanther Population by Country
    r = +0.99 · very strong · n = 21
    Plot
  2. Use per Area of CroplandPesticide Usage by Country
    r = +0.63 · strong · n = 23
    Plot
  3. New HIV Infection RateHIV Rates by Country
    r = +0.62 · strong · n = 25
    Plot
  4. Guava Mango Mangosteen Yield per HectareGuava Production by Country
    r = +0.61 · strong · n = 21
    Plot
  5. Total Exports 1950 to 2025Gun Exports by Country
    r = +0.60 · strong · n = 16
    Plot
  6. % Protestant/Ortodox/Other ChristianMost Christian Countries
    r = +0.58 · strong · n = 23
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Estimated Lion Population tend to score lower on these

  1. Erect Length (in)Penis Size by Country
    r = −0.65 · strong · n = 16
    Plot
  2. Average Penis LengthCondom Size by Country
    r = −0.65 · strong · n = 16
    Plot
  3. Erect Length (cm)Penis Size by Country
    r = −0.65 · strong · n = 16
    Plot
  4. VolumePenis Size by Country
    r = −0.56 · strong · n = 16
    Plot
  5. % CatholicHighest Catholic Population
    r = −0.54 · strong · n = 22
    Plot
  6. Anxiety Cases OverallAnxiety Rates by Country
    r = −0.54 · strong · n = 26
    Plot

Quick answers

Which country has the highest Estimated Lion Population?
Tanzania has the highest Estimated Lion Population, at 14,500, followed by South Africa (3,284) and Botswana (3,063).
Which country has the lowest Estimated Lion Population?
Gabon has the lowest Estimated Lion Population, at 2.
What is the median Estimated Lion Population across countries?
The median is 240 across the 26 countries with data.
Where does this lion population by country data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Lion Population by Country - 2025 Wildlife Estimates - Worldostats; World Lion Day 2023: Steady rise in lion population in India in last few years,' says PM Modi - Mint; Lion Panthera Leo - IUCN Redlist; Lion's share: India's big cats roar to record 891; 32% jump in five years - Times of India.

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