If you’ve been wondering how many chimpanzees are left in the world in 2024, the answer might catch you off guard. Experts estimate that between 172,700 and 299,700 chimpanzees live in the wild today.
That’s a far cry from the one million that used to roam freely. It really shows how much these animals have struggled over the years.
Chimpanzees mostly make their homes in forests across 21 African countries, like the Congo, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast.
Their numbers keep dropping as their habitats shrink. They also face threats like hunting and disease.
Learning about what’s happening to them now can really highlight why they need help more than ever.
Curious about where chimps live, what challenges they’re up against, and what people are doing to protect them? Keep reading—you might come across something unexpected.
If you want a deeper dive into their numbers and threats, check out these chimpanzee population estimates.
How Many Chimpanzees Are Left in 2024?
It’s honestly surprising how much the number of wild chimpanzees has dropped. Their populations change depending on subspecies and where they live.
Some groups face more danger than others. Several African countries still hold important chimpanzee populations.
Current Global Population Estimates
Today, experts put the number at about 170,000 to 300,000 chimpanzees living in the wild. That’s a steep fall from over a million around 1900.
Habitat loss, hunting, and diseases have driven this decline.
All chimpanzees are officially endangered. Some subspecies are in even more trouble.
Western chimpanzees, for example, have lost about 80% of their population in just 25 years.
Knowing these numbers really drives home how urgent conservation is.
Chimpanzee Population by Subspecies
There are four main subspecies of chimpanzees, and their numbers can be wildly different.
- Western chimpanzees mostly live in West Africa. They’re critically endangered because so much of their habitat is gone.
- Central chimpanzees have bigger numbers but still face threats like deforestation.
- Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees make up a small group near the Nigeria and Cameroon border. They’re critically endangered and face heavy hunting.
- The eastern chimpanzees live more spread out, but they’re not safe either.
Where each group lives and how well people protect their habitats can make all the difference.
Major Countries with Significant Populations
Chimpanzees mostly stick to a handful of African countries with tropical forests and woodlands.
- Gabon’s large rainforests support many chimpanzees.
- The Republic of Congo has protected areas where chimps still do pretty well.
- Cameroon and Nigeria are home to the Nigeria-Cameroon subspecies, which are in real trouble.
- Other central African countries, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, also have important populations.
These countries play a big part in conservation. Protected parks and reserves are absolutely vital for keeping chimpanzee numbers steady.
If you want more info, you can look up chimpanzee population data by country from 2025 rankings.
Key Threats Impacting Chimpanzee Numbers
Chimpanzees face some serious challenges that hit their populations hard. Things like habitat damage, hunting, and disease all play a part.
If you take a closer look at these threats, it’s pretty clear why their numbers have dropped so much.
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
Chimpanzees live in all sorts of forests, from rainforests to dry savannas.
But people keep cutting down trees for farming, logging, and mining. That breaks up their homes into smaller patches.
When forests get smaller or more scattered, chimps have a harder time finding food and mates.
They also run into people more often, which can lead to conflict. Sometimes, that means getting chased away or hurt.
Protecting and restoring forests is crucial if we want to give chimps a safe place to live.
Impact of Bushmeat Hunting on Chimpanzees
Hunting for bushmeat is a huge problem for chimpanzees.
People hunt chimps to sell their meat or grab infants for pets. When poachers take a baby, they usually have to kill several adults who try to protect it.
This illegal hunting hits chimpanzee numbers hard. It also breaks up family groups, which really messes with how chimps live and care for their young.
If hunting slows down, chimp populations might finally get a chance to bounce back.
Role of Disease and Illegal Pet Trade
Chimpanzees share over 98% of their DNA with humans. So, they can catch a lot of the same diseases we do.
When tourists, researchers, or even local folks get too close, they might pass along illnesses. Chimps just don’t have the same defenses, and their immune systems often struggle to keep up.
The illegal pet trade causes even more harm. People take babies from their mothers and sell them, which is heartbreaking and breaks important social bonds.
We really need to stop this trade if we want chimps to stay healthy and safe out there.
If you’re curious about the dangers chimps face from illegal hunting and habitat loss, check out the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation.
