Total | Amphibians | Birds | Fish | Mammals | Reptiles | Vascular Plants

Total number of plant species, by country

Note, there are two datasets presented in this table. The "updated" column reflects data collected between 2017-2021 from several academic sources. For some countries, the estimates are significantly lower than the World Conservation Monitoring Centre's 2004 aggregation (WCMC), which in some cases included multiple synonyms for a given species. The updated column should be considered more accurate, but the WCMC is also included..

The data agree that Brazil has the most plant species of any country, but after that, the rankings differ. But even with that caveat, the lists of the top 5 countries in terms of plant biodiversity share four names: Brazil, China, Colombia, and Mexico. Of the top 10 for the number of plant species, the lists share 7 countries.

Source: Plant data is from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-WCMC), 2004. Species Data. Fish: Fishbase; Birds: Birdlife International; Amphibians: AmphibiaWeb; Mammals: IUCN; Reptiles: the Reptile Database.

Species counts: Total | Amphibians | Birds | Mammals | Reptiles | Vascular Plants

Global Diversity of Vascular Plants

Vascular plants, including ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms, are the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems, providing food, oxygen, and habitat for countless organisms. The highest plant diversity is found in tropical rainforests, which harbor an extraordinary array of tree, shrub, herb, and epiphyte species. Some of the world’s richest botanical regions include the Amazon Basin, the Andes, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa.

Current species counts represent only minimum estimates of vascular plant diversity. Scientists continue to describe new species each year, particularly in remote rainforests and poorly studied ecosystems. Many plants remain undiscovered or undescribed, and ongoing botanical research, including genetic analysis, continues to reveal cryptic species and evolutionary relationships.

Neotropics: The World’s Richest Flora

The Neotropical region is home to the highest vascular plant diversity, with South American countries dominating the global rankings:

• Brazil: With 34,387 known species, Brazil is the most plant-rich country on Earth. Its Amazon rainforest, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Pantanal each support unique and highly diverse plant communities, many of which are endemic.
• Colombia: Boasting 24,025 species, Colombia’s diverse topography—from Andean cloud forests to Amazonian lowlands—supports an exceptional variety of plant life.
• Mexico: With 23,385 plant species, Mexico is home to both tropical and temperate flora, including extensive pine-oak forests, deserts, and tropical rainforests.
• Peru: Holding 19,812 species, Peru’s biodiversity is shaped by its Amazonian rainforests and Andean cloud forests, which support a wealth of epiphytic plants such as orchids and bromeliads.
• Ecuador: With 18,466 species, Ecuador has an extraordinary plant diversity concentrated in its Amazonian, Andean, and Chocó rainforest regions.
• Bolivia: Home to 14,729 species, Bolivia’s montane forests and savannas contribute to its rich plant diversity.
• Costa Rica: Despite its small size, Costa Rica hosts 11,000 vascular plant species, making it one of the most botanically diverse countries per unit of land area.
• Panama: With 10,462 species, Panama serves as a biological bridge between North and South America, supporting a mix of floristic influences.

Afrotropics: Plant Diversity in Africa

Africa’s tropical rainforests, savannas, and mountains harbor a vast range of vascular plants:

• South Africa: With 21,250 species, South Africa is renowned for its Cape Floristic Region, a biodiversity hotspot with exceptional levels of plant endemism.
• Madagascar: Hosting 11,832 species, Madagascar is famous for its unique flora, including baobabs, traveler’s trees, and thousands of endemic orchid species.

Indo-Malayan Region: Asia’s Botanical Wealth

Asia is home to some of the most diverse plant communities in the world, with countries like China and Indonesia ranking among the top globally:

• China: With 31,362 known vascular plant species, China has a vast range of ecosystems, from temperate forests to tropical rainforests in Yunnan, home to many endemic species.
• Indonesia: Supporting 19,232 species, Indonesia’s rainforests host an array of dipterocarp trees, medicinal plants, and epiphytes.
• Myanmar: With 16,000 species, Myanmar’s botanical diversity is influenced by its tropical and subtropical forests.
• India: Home to 15,000 species, India’s Western Ghats and northeastern rainforests support a wealth of endemic plants.
• Malaysia: Holding 14,060 species, Malaysia’s dipterocarp forests are among the most floristically rich in the world.
• Papua New Guinea: With 10,973 species, Papua New Guinea’s diverse rainforests contain many unique and undiscovered plants.

Nearctic and Palearctic Regions: Temperate and Boreal Flora

Although temperate and boreal regions have lower overall plant diversity than tropical rainforests, they still support rich and unique floras:

• United States: The U.S. hosts 15,500 species, with high diversity concentrated in the southeastern forests, the Pacific Northwest, and the deserts of the southwest.
• Russia: With 12,500 species, Russia’s vast taiga, steppe, and temperate forests support a variety of cold-adapted vascular plants.

Rainforest Plants: Strategies for Survival

Rainforest plants have evolved an array of adaptations to thrive in the competitive, resource-limited environments of the tropics:

• Epiphytes: Non-parasitic plants such as orchids, bromeliads, and ferns grow on trees to access sunlight while relying on rain and organic debris for nutrients.
• Lianas: Woody vines use tree trunks for support, allowing them to reach the canopy without investing in thick stems.
• Buttress Roots: Many large trees develop wide, flared roots to provide stability in shallow rainforest soils.
• Drip-Tip Leaves: Many tropical plants have elongated leaf tips that help shed excess rainwater, preventing fungal growth.

Conservation Challenges

Deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and climate change pose significant threats to global plant diversity. Rainforests, in particular, are being cleared for agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development, endangering countless plant species before they are even discovered. Conservation efforts, including botanical reserves, seed banks, and sustainable forestry practices, are critical for protecting the world’s vascular plant diversity.

IUCN Red List (partial list of rainforest countries): Australia, Belize, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Côte D’ivoire, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo Brazzaville, Congo Kinshasa, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Venezuela, and Vietnam.