We hope that most people are aware that penguins exist (we hope!), but are you aware of each penguin species’ IUCN Red List status?
Established in 1964, the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species. According to the IUCN, most penguin species are not faring well. As of the last assessment dates, 2/3 of penguin species have a decreasing population trend, and half of all penguin species have a threatened status (IUCN RedList search, accessed 1/16/2026). Out of those with a threatened status, African penguins are considered critically endangered, meaning it has an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Click here to see a table of penguin species, their population trend, and red list status.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Population Trend | Red List Status | Red List Assessment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelie penguin | Pygoscelis adeliae | Increasing | Least Concern | 9/15/2020 |
| African penguin | Spheniscus demersus | Decreasing | Critically Endangered | 7/4/2024 |
| Chinstrap penguin | Pygoscelis antarcticus | Decreasing | Least Concern | 9/10/2020 |
| Emperor penguin | Aptenodytes forsteri | Decreasing | Near Threatened | 8/28/2019 |
| Erect-crested penguin | Eudyptes sclateri | Decreasing | Endangered | 8/21/2020 |
| Fiordland penguin | Eudyptes pachyrhynchus | Decreasing | Near Threatened | 8/18/2020 |
| Galápagos penguin | Spheniscus mendiculus | Decreasing | Endangered | 8/21/2020 |
| Gentoo penguin | Pygoscelis papua | Stable | Least Concern | 8/28/2019 |
| Humboldt penguin | Spheniscus humboldti | Decreasing | Vulnerable | 8/21/2020 |
| King penguin | Aptenodytes patagonicus | Increasing | Least Concern | 9/8/2020 |
| Little penguin | Eudyptula minor | Stable | Least Concern | 9/10/2020 |
| Macaroni penguin | Eudyptes chrysolophus | Decreasing | Vulnerable | 9/9/2020 |
| Magellanic penguin | Spheniscus magellanicus | Decreasing | Least Concern | 8/20/2020 |
| Northern Rockhopper penguin | Eudyptes moseleyi | Decreasing | Endangered | 9/9/2020 |
| Royal penguin | Eudyptes schlegeli | Unknown | Least Concern | 11/17/2021 |
| Snares penguin | Eudyptes robustus | Stable | Vulnerable | 8/7/2018 |
| Southern Rockhopper penguin | Eudyptes chrysocome | Decreasing | Vulnerable | 8/24/2020 |
| Yellow-eyed penguin | Megadyptes antipodes | Decreasing | Endangered | 8/21/2020 |
The IUCN lists climate change & severe weather, along with biological resource use, to be threats to most penguin species. These are huge issues, with no easy solutions. How can we combat these threats? The first step is the theme of the day: awareness! Here are a few student-made videos made to educate people on the plight of penguins across the globe:
African Penguin PSA
African penguins are no strangers to humans. Soon, however, people may longer be able to see our African penguin friends. Why? Watch the video to find out, and check out the Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment of South Africa for more conservation information.
Student: Nicholas Kroll
Galapagos Conservation
To stop the rare Galapagos penguin population from declining further, please consider adopting a penguin with the Galapagos Conservation Trust.
Student: Sam Yi
New Zealand’s Noisemakers
Don’t let the yellow-eyed penguin become extinct! Support the IUCN Penguins Specialist Group to further the conservation of penguins.
Student: Zoya Siddiqui
This Penguin Awareness Day, help us spread awareness of penguins’ conservation status and threats to their survival. For some species, such as the African penguin, they need all of the help they can get!
