More Species Are Being Protected Under the ESA. Few Have Recovered.

Cumulative number of U.S. species added to the endangered species list and subsequently delisted due to recovery, 1973–2026.

Line chart, 1973–2026. Species ever listed under the ESA rises from 124 to 1,744, while species delisted due to recovery rises from 0 to 53.

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Experimental populations and foreign-only species are excluded; distinct population segments and joint U.S./foreign listings are included in listings.

Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, ECOSGet the data