Kingdoms of the king: Top 10 countries where lions still reign in the wild

In the early 20th century, over 200,000 lions roamed the wild across #Africa, #Asia, and #Europe. Today, that number has dropped to fewer than 20,000—a 90% decline driven by habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict,

Once reigning across vast landscapes of Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe, wild lions have seen a devastating drop in population over the past century.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in the early 20th century, over 200,000 lions roamed freely across these three continents.

Today, that number has dropped to an astonishing 90%, with fewer than 20,000 lions remaining in the wild. This decline is primarily due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.

Despite the grim statistics, there are still nations where lions maintain their royal presence.

At the top of the list is Tanzania, which leads by a wide margin with 14,500 lions, making it the undisputed kingdom of the king of beasts. This is followed by:

South Africa – 3,284 lions
Botswana – 3,063 lions
Kenya – 2,515 lions
Zambia – 2,349 lions
Zimbabwe – 1,362 lions
Ethiopia – 1,239 lions
South Sudan – 866 lions
Namibia – 801 lions
India – 680 lions

India stands as the only non-African country on the list, home to the rare Asiatic lion found exclusively in the Gir Forest of Gujarat.

Still, the future of lions remains uncertain. The WWF and other conservation organisations continue to advocate for stronger protections, international cooperation, and increased awareness to prevent further loss of this iconic species.

Abigail Johnson Boakye