Sharks on the Red List of the IUCN

The Red List of the IUCN contains endangered animal and plant species. The Red List criteria are complex and it can take years to analyze a species.

Unfortunately, the list also contains many shark species. Below you will find a total of 549 shark species, almost all of those known today being classified under the main categories of the Red List.

© IUCN Red List 2025. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Version 2025-2.

• EX

  Extinct
  

  Number of species: 1 (?)

  

• EW

  Extinct in the Wild
  

  Number of species: 0

• CR

  Critically Endangered
  

  Number of species: 35

  

• EN

  Endangered
  

  Number of species: 57

  

• VU

  Vulnerable
  

  Number of species: 77

  

• NT

  Near Threatened
  

  Number of species: 50

  

• LC

  Least Concern
  

  Number of species: 265

  

• DD

  Data Deficient
  

  Number of species: 64

  

• NE

  Not Evaluated
  

  Number of species: 0