Restore Ecosystems - Coral Reefs - Ocean Central
Shallow water coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but support around 25% of all marine life, making them one of the most vital ecosystems on Earth.
Beyond biodiversity, they protect coastlines from erosion, sustain fisheries that feed millions, and underpin tourism economies worldwide.
These ecosystems are in steep decline, threatened by climate change, overfishing, and pollution. After a record-breaking marine heatwave in 2024, declines in coral were the highest since monitoring began 39 years ago, according to the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Coral health is directly tied to both biodiversity and climate resilience, making their restoration and protection critical. For more information, see NOAA Coral Reef Watch.
Key Stats
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25%
Source: Spalding, M., Ravilious, C. and Green, E.P., 2001. World Atlas of Coral Reefs. Berkeley: University of California Press. https://resources.unep-wcmc.org/products/WCMC_RT104Marine species that rely on coral reefs.
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~500 Million
Source: Burke, L., Reytar, K., Spalding, M. and Perry, A., 2011. Reefs at Risk Revisited. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/research/reefs-risk-revisitedWorld population dependent on reefs for food, coastal protection, and livelihoods.
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$375 Billion
Source: Cesar, H., Burke, L. and Pet-Soede, L., 2003. The economics of worldwide coral reef degradation. Arnhem: Cesar Environmental Economics Consulting (CEEC). https://pdf.wri.org/cesardegradationreport100203.pdfEstimated economic value of coral reefs through fisheries, tourism, and coastal defense.
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97%
Source: Ferrario, F., Beck, M.W., Storlazzi, C.D., Micheli, F., Shepard, C.C. and Airoldi, L., 2014. The effectiveness of coral reefs for coastal hazard risk reduction and adaptation. Nature Communications, 5, 3794. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24825660/Reduction in wave energy from reefs to protect coastlines.
UNEP-WCMC, WorldFish Centre, WRI, TNC (2021). Global distribution of warm-water coral reefs, compiled from multiple sources including the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project. Version 4.1. Includes contributions from IMaRS-USF and IRD (2005), IMaRS-USF (2005) and Spalding et al. (2001). Cambridge (UK): UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Data DOI: https://doi.org/10.34892/t2wk-5t34
Globally, coral reef ecosystems have decreased 60.2% between 1900 and 2019.
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Temporal Coverage
The number of years of available data.
1Year
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Data Frequency
Recent – At least one data point in the last 7 yearsInsufficient – Does not have any data at all for analysis Expired – Does not have any data in the last 10 years Not Recent – At least one data point in the last 8 to 10 years Recent – At least one data point in the last 7 years Sufficient – At least 2 data points available for trend analysis AND at least one data point in the last 7 years
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Geographic Range
100% of global data avaliableThe percentage of the ocean represented by the available data
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Goal Assessment
2030 Goal – High Quality (Measurable)None – No Global Goal Established Low – The goal is broad Medium – The goal is specific High – The goal is measurable
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2050 Goal – High Quality (Measurable)
There is still so much we do not know about our oceans.
Join us in filling critical gaps in ocean data.
Coral reefs are among the most extensively studied marine ecosystems, yet global data remain uneven, particularly for remote or politically unstable regions, making it challenging to track change with precision.
While scientific monitoring is robust in some areas, many reef systems lack continuous assessments, limiting our ability to understand trends at a global scale.
Despite unprecedented threats, there is growing momentum in reef restoration and protection. Advances in techniques such as coral gardening, larval reseeding, micro-fragmentation, and selective breeding for heat-resistant corals are showing promising results. Local stewardship programs, Indigenous management practices, and reef-positive tourism models are helping communities actively restore reef health while generating economic benefits.
However, these efforts require greater investment and long-term planning to meet the scale of the global reef crisis. Without substantial intervention, an estimated 90% of the world’s coral reefs are projected to experience severe annual bleaching by 2055, underscoring the urgency for action.
Explore where coral reefs are most prevalent and how those habitats are changing.
UNEP-WCMC, WorldFish Centre, WRI, TNC (2021). Global distribution of warm-water coral reefs, compiled from multiple sources including the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project. Version 4.1. Includes contributions from IMaRS-USF and IRD (2005), IMaRS-USF (2005) and Spalding et al. (2001). Cambridge (UK): UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Data DOI: https://doi.org/10.34892/t2wk-5t34
Flanders Marine Institute (2024). The intersect of the Exclusive Economic Zones and IHO sea areas, version 5. Available online at https://www.marineregions.org/. https://doi.org/10.14284/699
There are approximately 149,178 km² of coral reefs globally—100% of which lie within national EEZs.
UNEP-WCMC, WorldFish Centre, WRI, TNC (2021). Global distribution of warm-water coral reefs, compiled from multiple sources including the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project. Version 4.1. Includes contributions from IMaRS-USF and IRD (2005), IMaRS-USF (2005) and Spalding et al. (2001). Cambridge (UK): UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Data DOI: https://doi.org/10.34892/t2wk-5t34
Globally, coral reef ecosystems experienced a net relative decrease of ~10% between 1980 and 2020.
Track the pressures driving coral reef loss, from species at risk to disturbance alerts.
UNEP-WCMC, WorldFish Centre, WRI, TNC (2021). Global distribution of warm-water coral reefs, compiled from multiple sources including the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project. Version 4.1. Includes contributions from IMaRS-USF and IRD (2005), IMaRS-USF (2005) and Spalding et al. (2001). Cambridge (UK): UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Data DOI: https://doi.org/10.34892/t2wk-5t34
Gregor, L. and Gruber, N.: OceanSODA-ETHZ: a global gridded data set of the surface ocean carbonate system for seasonal to decadal studies of ocean acidification, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 777–808, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-777-2021, 2021
NOTE: Negative pH values and trends indicate increasing ocean acidification
Significant Increasing Acidity Trend – Any pixel where the p-value of a linear trend line is less than 0.05, based on data over the period 1982-2022.
Globally, over 83% of coral reefs are in marine areas of significant acidification.
UNEP-WCMC, WorldFish Centre, WRI, TNC (2021). Global distribution of warm-water coral reefs, compiled from multiple sources including the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project. Version 4.1. Includes contributions from IMaRS-USF and IRD (2005), IMaRS-USF (2005) and Spalding et al. (2001). Cambridge (UK): UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Data DOI: https://doi.org/10.34892/t2wk-5t34
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch (n.d.) Daily Global 5km Satellite Marine Heatwave Watch (MHW) product. NOAA Coral Reef Watch. Available at: https://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/product/marine_heatwave/ (Accessed: 24 July 2025).
Areas Experiencing Heat Stress Exceedance – Any area with at least one day of Category 1 Marine Heatwave in 2024, as defined here: https://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/product/marine_heatwave/
Globally, approximately 97% of coral reefs lay within areas experiencing heat stress in 2024.
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) (2025) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org (Accessed: December 12 2025).
Globally, there are 892 species of warm water coral tracked by the IUCN out of which 251 are endangered which have a significant opportunity for recovery with timely action.
| Species | Status |
|---|---|
| Acanthastrea brevis | LC |
| Acanthastrea echinata | LC |
| Acanthastrea hemprichii | LC |
| Acanthastrea minuta | LC |
| Acanthastrea pachysepta | LC |
| Acanthastrea rotundoflora | LC |
| Acanthastrea subechinata | LC |
| Acropora abrolhosensis | EN |
| Acropora abrotanoides | EN |
| Acropora aculeus | EN |
| Acropora acuminata | EN |
| Acropora africana | DD |
| Acropora akajimensis | DD |
| Acropora anthocercis | EN |
| Acropora appressa | DD |
| Acropora arabensis | EN |
| Acropora arafura | DD |
| Acropora aspera | EN |
| Acropora austera | EN |
| Acropora awi | EN |
| Acropora batunai | VU |
| Acropora bifaria | DD |
| Acropora branchi | DD |
| Acropora bushyensis | EN |
| Acropora capillaris | DD |
| Acropora cardenae | LC |
| Acropora carduus | EN |
| Acropora caroliniana | VU |
| Acropora cerealis | EN |
| Acropora cervicornis | CR |
| Acropora chesterfieldensis | EN |
| Acropora clathrata | EN |
| Acropora cophodactyla | DD |
| Acropora cytherea | EN |
| Acropora dendrum | EN |
| Acropora derawanensis | EN |
| Acropora desalwii | VU |
| Acropora digitifera | EN |
| Acropora divaricata | EN |
| Acropora donei | EN |
| Acropora downingi | EN |
| Acropora echinata | EN |
| Acropora eibli | DD |
| Acropora elegans | LC |
| Acropora elegantula | DD |
| Acropora elseyi | EN |
| Acropora eurystoma | EN |
| Acropora exquisita | DD |
| Acropora fastigata | DD |
| Acropora fenneri | EN |
| Acropora filiformis | EN |
| Acropora florida | EN |
| Acropora forskali | DD |
| Acropora gemmifera | EN |
| Acropora glauca | EN |
| Acropora globiceps | EN |
| Acropora gomezi | DD |
| Acropora grandis | EN |
| Acropora granulosa | VU |
| Acropora haimei | DD |
| Acropora halmaherae | EN |
| Acropora hemprichii | EN |
| Acropora hoeksemai | EN |
| Acropora horrida | EN |
| Acropora humilis | EN |
| Acropora hyacinthus | EN |
| Acropora indonesia | EN |
| Acropora intermedia | EN |
| Acropora jacquelineae | VU |
| Acropora japonica | CR |
| Acropora kenti | DD |
| Acropora kimbeensis | EN |
| Acropora kirstyae | EN |
| Acropora kosurini | EN |
| Acropora lamarcki | LC |
| Acropora latistella | EN |
| Acropora listeri | EN |
| Acropora loisetteae | EN |
| Acropora lokani | EN |
| Acropora longicyathus | EN |
| Acropora loripes | EN |
| Acropora lovelli | EN |
| Acropora lutkeni | EN |
| Acropora macrostoma | DD |
| Acropora microclados | EN |
| Acropora microphthalma | EN |
| Acropora millepora | EN |
| Acropora mirabilis | DD |
| Acropora monticulosa | EN |
| Acropora mossambica | EN |
| Acropora multiacuta | EN |
| Acropora muricata | EN |
| Acropora nana | EN |
| Acropora nasuta | EN |
| Acropora natalensis | DD |
| Acropora palmata | CR |
| Acropora palmerae | EN |
| Acropora paniculata | EN |
| Acropora papillare | EN |
| Acropora pectinata | DD |
| Acropora pharaonis | EN |
| Acropora pichoni | LC |
| Acropora plantaginea | DD |
| Acropora plumosa | EN |
| Acropora polystoma | EN |
| Acropora proximalis | EN |
| Acropora pruinosa | EN |
| Acropora pulchra | EN |
| Acropora retusa | EN |
| Acropora ridzwani | DD |
| Acropora robusta | EN |
| Acropora rongelapensis | EN |
| Acropora rongoi | DD |
| Acropora roseni | VU |
| Acropora rudis | EN |
| Acropora rufa | DD |
| Acropora russelli | NT |
| Acropora samoensis | EN |
| Acropora sarmentosa | EN |
| Acropora secale | EN |
| Acropora selago | EN |
| Acropora seriata | DD |
| Acropora simplex | LC |
| Acropora sirikitiae | DD |
| Acropora solitaryensis | EN |
| Acropora sordiensis | EN |
| Acropora spathulata | EN |
| Acropora speciosa | VU |
| Acropora spicifera | EN |
| Acropora squamata | DD |
| Acropora squarrosa | EN |
| Acropora stoddarti | EN |
| Acropora striata | EN |
| Acropora subglabra | EN |
| Acropora subulata | EN |
| Acropora suharsonoi | EN |
| Acropora sukarnoi | EN |
| Acropora tanegashimensis | VU |
| Acropora tenella | LC |
| Acropora tenuis | EN |
| Acropora tenuissima | DD |
| Acropora teres | DD |
| Acropora torihalimeda | DD |
| Acropora tortuosa | EN |
| Acropora tumida | EN |
| Acropora turaki | EN |
| Acropora valenciennesi | EN |
| Acropora valida | EN |
| Acropora variolosa | EN |
| Acropora vaughani | EN |
| Acropora verweyi | EN |
| Acropora walindii | EN |
| Acropora willisae | EN |
| Acropora yongei | EN |
| Agaricia agaricites | VU |
| Agaricia fragilis | LC |
| Agaricia grahamae | NT |
| Agaricia humilis | CR |
| Agaricia lamarcki | CR |
| Agaricia tenuifolia | CR |
| Agaricia undata | LC |
| Alveopora allingi | EN |
| Alveopora catalai | EN |
| Alveopora daedalea | EN |
| Alveopora excelsa | VU |
| Alveopora fenestrata | EN |
| Alveopora gigas | EN |
| Alveopora japonica | CR |
| Alveopora marionensis | EN |
| Alveopora minuta | EN |
| Alveopora ocellata | EN |
| Alveopora spongiosa | VU |
| Alveopora superficialis | DD |
| Alveopora tizardi | LC |
| Alveopora verrilliana | EN |
| Alveopora viridis | VU |
| Anacropora forbesi | VU |
| Anacropora matthaii | VU |
| Anacropora pillai | VU |
| Anacropora puertogalerae | EN |
| Anacropora reticulata | EN |
| Anacropora spinosa | EN |
| Anacropora spumosa | EN |
| Anomastraea irregularis | LC |
| Astraeosmilia connata | LC |
| Astraeosmilia curvata | LC |
| Astraeosmilia maxima | LC |
| Astraeosmilia tumida | LC |
| Astrangia poculata | LC |
| Astrea annuligera | LC |
| Astrea curta | LC |
| Astrea rotulosa | LC |
| Astreopora acroporina | EN |
| Astreopora cenderawasih | EN |
| Astreopora cucullata | EN |
| Astreopora expansa | VU |
| Astreopora explanata | DD |
| Astreopora gracilis | LC |
| Astreopora incrustans | EN |
| Astreopora lambertsi | DD |
| Astreopora listeri | EN |
| Astreopora macrostoma | EN |
| Astreopora monteporina | EN |
| Astreopora moretonensis | EN |
| Astreopora myriophthalma | LC |
| Astreopora ocellata | LC |
| Astreopora randalli | EN |
| Astreopora scabra | LC |
| Astreopora suggesta | EN |
| Australogyra zelli | LC |
| Australophyllia wilsoni | VU |
| Balanophyllia europaea | VU |
| Bernardpora stutchburyi | LC |
| Blastomussa loyae | LC |
| Blastomussa merleti | LC |
| Blastomussa omanensis | LC |
| Blastomussa vivida | LC |
| Blastomussa wellsi | LC |
| Boninastrea boninensis | VU |
| Cantharellus doederleini | LC |
| Cantharellus jebbi | LC |
| Cantharellus noumeae | VU |
| Catalaphyllia jardinei | LC |
| Caulastraea echinulata | EN |
| Caulastraea furcata | LC |
| Cladocora arbuscula | LC |
| Cladocora caespitosa | EN |
| Coelastrea aspera | LC |
| Coelastrea incrustans | DD |
| Coelastrea palauensis | LC |
| Coelastrea tenuis | DD |
| Coeloseris mayeri | LC |
| Colpophyllia breviserialis | CR |
| Colpophyllia natans | VU |
| Coscinaraea crassa | LC |
| Coscinaraea hahazimaensis | LC |
| Coscinaraea marshae | LC |
| Coscinaraea mcneilli | LC |
| Coscinaraea monile | LC |
| Craterastrea levis | LC |
| Ctenactis albitentaculata | EN |
| Ctenactis crassa | LC |
| Ctenactis echinata | LC |
| Ctenella chagius | CR |
| Cycloseris boschmai | LC |
| Cycloseris costulata | LC |
| Cycloseris curvata | LC |
| Cycloseris cyclolites | LC |
| Cycloseris distorta | LC |
| Cycloseris explanulata | LC |
| Cycloseris fragilis | LC |
| Cycloseris mokai | LC |
| Cycloseris sinensis | LC |
| Cycloseris somervillei | LC |
| Cycloseris tenuis | LC |
| Cycloseris vaughani | LC |
| Cycloseris wellsi | LC |
| Cynarina lacrymalis | LC |
| Cynarina macassarensis | DD |
| Cyphastrea agassizi | LC |
| Cyphastrea chalcidicum | LC |
| Cyphastrea decadia | LC |
| Cyphastrea hexasepta | LC |
| Cyphastrea japonica | LC |
| Cyphastrea kausti | LC |
| Cyphastrea magna | DD |
| Cyphastrea microphthalma | LC |
| Cyphastrea ocellina | LC |
| Cyphastrea salae | DD |
| Cyphastrea serailia | LC |
| Cyphastrea zhongjianensis | DD |
| Danafungia horrida | LC |
| Danafungia scruposa | EN |
| Dendrogyra cylindrus | CR |
| Dichocoenia stokesii | VU |
| Diploastrea heliopora | LC |
| Diploria labyrinthiformis | CR |
| Dipsastraea albida | LC |
| Dipsastraea amicorum | LC |
| Dipsastraea danai | LC |
| Dipsastraea faviaformis | LC |
| Dipsastraea favus | VU |
| Dipsastraea helianthoides | LC |
| Dipsastraea lacuna | LC |
| Dipsastraea laddi | LC |
| Dipsastraea laxa | EN |
| Dipsastraea lizardensis | EN |
| Dipsastraea maritima | LC |
| Dipsastraea marshae | LC |
| Dipsastraea matthaii | LC |
| Dipsastraea pallida | LC |
| Dipsastraea rosaria | LC |
| Dipsastraea rotumana | LC |
| Dipsastraea speciosa | LC |
| Dipsastraea truncata | LC |
| Dipsastraea veroni | LC |
| Dipsastraea vietnamensis | LC |
| Duncanopsammia axifuga | LC |
| Duncanopsammia peltata | LC |
| Echinomorpha nishihirai | LC |
| Echinophyllia aspera | LC |
| Echinophyllia bulbosa | DD |
| Echinophyllia costata | LC |
| Echinophyllia echinoporoides | LC |
| Echinophyllia galli | DD |
| Echinophyllia glabra | LC |
| Echinophyllia hirsuta | DD |
| Echinophyllia orpheensis | LC |
| Echinophyllia patula | LC |
| Echinophyllia pectinata | LC |
| Echinophyllia tarae | VU |
| Echinopora ashmorensis | LC |
| Echinopora forskaliana | LC |
| Echinopora fruticulosa | LC |
| Echinopora gemmacea | LC |
| Echinopora grandicula | DD |
| Echinopora hirsutissima | LC |
| Echinopora horrida | LC |
| Echinopora irregularis | LC |
| Echinopora lamellosa | VU |
| Echinopora mammiformis | LC |
| Echinopora pacifica | LC |
| Echinopora robusta | LC |
| Echinopora taylorae | LC |
| Echinopora tiranensis | LC |
| Enigmopora darveliensis | VU |
| Euphyllia baliensis | EN |
| Euphyllia cristata | LC |
| Euphyllia glabrescens | LC |
| Euphyllia paraglabrescens | LC |
| Eusmilia fastigiata | CR |
| Favia fragum | LC |
| Favia gravida | LC |
| Favites abdita | LC |
| Favites acuticollis | LC |
| Favites chinensis | LC |
| Favites colemani | LC |
| Favites complanata | LC |
| Favites favosa | DD |
| Favites flexuosa | LC |
| Favites halicora | LC |
| Favites magnistellata | LC |
| Favites melicerum | LC |
| Favites micropentagonus | LC |
| Favites paraflexuosus | LC |
| Favites pentagona | LC |
| Favites rotundata | LC |
| Favites solidocolumellae | DD |
| Favites spinosa | LC |
| Favites stylifera | LC |
| Favites valenciennesii | EN |
| Favites vasta | LC |
| Fimbriaphyllia ancora | LC |
| Fimbriaphyllia divisa | LC |
| Fimbriaphyllia paraancora | LC |
| Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa | LC |
| Fimbriaphyllia yaeyamaensis | LC |
| Fungia fungites | LC |
| Fungia puishani | DD |
| Galaxea acrhelia | LC |
| Galaxea astreata | LC |
| Galaxea cryptoramosa | LC |
| Galaxea fascicularis | LC |
| Galaxea horrescens | LC |
| Galaxea longisepta | LC |
| Galaxea paucisepta | LC |
| Gardineroseris planulata | LC |
| Goniastrea columella | LC |
| Goniastrea edwardsi | LC |
| Goniastrea favulus | LC |
| Goniastrea minuta | LC |
| Goniastrea pectinata | LC |
| Goniastrea ramosa | LC |
| Goniastrea retiformis | LC |
| Goniastrea stelligera | LC |
| Goniastrea thecata | LC |
| Goniopora albiconus | LC |
| Goniopora burgosi | LC |
| Goniopora cellulosa | LC |
| Goniopora ciliatus | LC |
| Goniopora columna | LC |
| Goniopora diminuta | LC |
| Goniopora djiboutiensis | LC |
| Goniopora eclipsensis | LC |
| Goniopora fruticosa | LC |
| Goniopora granulosa | DD |
| Goniopora lobata | LC |
| Goniopora norfolkensis | LC |
| Goniopora paliformis | LC |
| Goniopora palmensis | LC |
| Goniopora pandoraensis | LC |
| Goniopora pearsoni | LC |
| Goniopora pedunculata | LC |
| Goniopora pendulus | LC |
| Goniopora petiolata | DD |
| Goniopora planulata | LC |
| Goniopora polyformis | LC |
| Goniopora savignyi | LC |
| Goniopora somaliensis | LC |
| Goniopora stokesi | LC |
| Goniopora sultani | LC |
| Goniopora tantillus | EN |
| Goniopora tenella | LC |
| Goniopora tenuidens | LC |
| Gyrosmilia interrupta | LC |
| Halomitra clavator | LC |
| Halomitra pileus | LC |
| Heliofungia actiniformis | LC |
| Heliofungia fralinae | LC |
| Heliopora coerulea | LC |
| Helioseris cucullata | CR |
| Herpolitha limax | LC |
| Heterocyathus aequicostatus | LC |
| Heterocyathus alternatus | LC |
| Heterocyathus sulcatus | LC |
| Heteropsammia cochlea | LC |
| Heteropsammia eupsammides | DD |
| Homophyllia australis | VU |
| Homophyllia bowerbanki | LC |
| Horastrea indica | LC |
| Hydnophora bonsai | LC |
| Hydnophora exesa | LC |
| Hydnophora grandis | DD |
| Hydnophora microconos | LC |
| Hydnophora pilosa | LC |
| Hydnophora rigida | LC |
| Isophyllia rigida | LC |
| Isophyllia sinuosa | LC |
| Isopora brueggemanni | EN |
| Isopora crateriformis | EN |
| Isopora cuneata | EN |
| Isopora elizabethensis | DD |
| Isopora palifera | EN |
| Isopora togianensis | EN |
| Leptastrea aequalis | LC |
| Leptastrea bewickensis | LC |
| Leptastrea bottae | LC |
| Leptastrea gibbosa | DD |
| Leptastrea inaequalis | LC |
| Leptastrea magaloni | DD |
| Leptastrea purpurea | LC |
| Leptastrea transversa | LC |
| Leptoria irregularis | LC |
| Leptoria phrygia | LC |
| Leptoseris amitoriensis | LC |
| Leptoseris cailleti | LC |
| Leptoseris explanata | LC |
| Leptoseris foliosa | LC |
| Leptoseris fragilis | DD |
| Leptoseris gardineri | LC |
| Leptoseris glabra | LC |
| Leptoseris hawaiiensis | LC |
| Leptoseris incrustans | LC |
| Leptoseris kalayaanensis | NT |
| Leptoseris mycetoseroides | LC |
| Leptoseris papyracea | LC |
| Leptoseris scabra | LC |
| Leptoseris solida | LC |
| Leptoseris striata | LC |
| Leptoseris tubulifera | LC |
| Leptoseris yabei | LC |
| Lithophyllon concinna | EN |
| Lithophyllon ranjithi | DD |
| Lithophyllon repanda | EN |
| Lithophyllon scabra | LC |
| Lithophyllon spinifer | LC |
| Lithophyllon undulatum | LC |
| Lobactis scutaria | LC |
| Lobophyllia agaricia | LC |
| Lobophyllia corymbosa | VU |
| Lobophyllia costata | DD |
| Lobophyllia dentata | EN |
| Lobophyllia diminuta | EN |
| Lobophyllia erythraea | LC |
| Lobophyllia flabelliformis | LC |
| Lobophyllia grandis | DD |
| Lobophyllia hassi | LC |
| Lobophyllia hataii | LC |
| Lobophyllia hemprichii | EN |
| Lobophyllia ishigakiensis | LC |
| Lobophyllia radians | LC |
| Lobophyllia recta | LC |
| Lobophyllia robusta | VU |
| Lobophyllia rowleyensis | LC |
| Lobophyllia serrata | EN |
| Lobophyllia sinuosa | DD |
| Lobophyllia valenciennesii | LC |
| Lobophyllia vitiensis | LC |
| Madracis asanoi | LC |
| Madracis asperula | LC |
| Madracis auretenra | LC |
| Madracis carmabi | LC |
| Madracis decactis | CR |
| Madracis formosa | NT |
| Madracis kirbyi | LC |
| Madracis pharensis | LC |
| Madracis senaria | LC |
| Manicina areolata | LC |
| Meandrina brasiliensis | CR |
| Meandrina danae | LC |
| Meandrina jacksoni | CR |
| Meandrina meandrites | CR |
| Merulina ampliata | LC |
| Merulina cylindrica | LC |
| Merulina rotunda | DD |
| Merulina scabricula | EN |
| Merulina scheeri | LC |
| Merulina triangularis | LC |
| Micromussa amakusensis | LC |
| Micromussa indiana | LC |
| Micromussa lordhowensis | EN |
| Micromussa multipunctata | LC |
| Micromussa pacifica | LC |
| Micromussa regularis | LC |
| Millepora alcicornis | EN |
| Millepora boschmai | DD |
| Millepora braziliensis | CR |
| Millepora complanata | CR |
| Millepora dichotoma | EN |
| Millepora exaesa | EN |
| Millepora foveolata | EN |
| Millepora intricata | EN |
| Millepora laboreli | DD |
| Millepora latifolia | VU |
| Millepora nitida | CR |
| Millepora platyphylla | EN |
| Millepora squarrosa | CR |
| Millepora striata | VU |
| Millepora tenera | EN |
| Montastraea cavernosa | LC |
| Montigyra kenti | DD |
| Montipora aequituberculata | EN |
| Montipora altasepta | EN |
| Montipora angulata | EN |
| Montipora aspergillus | EN |
| Montipora australiensis | EN |
| Montipora berryi | DD |
| Montipora cactus | EN |
| Montipora calcarea | EN |
| Montipora caliculata | EN |
| Montipora capitata | EN |
| Montipora capricornis | EN |
| Montipora carinata | EN |
| Montipora cebuensis | EN |
| Montipora circumvallata | EN |
| Montipora cocosensis | EN |
| Montipora confusa | EN |
| Montipora conicula | DD |
| Montipora corbettensis | EN |
| Montipora crassituberculata | EN |
| Montipora cryptus | EN |
| Montipora danae | EN |
| Montipora delicatula | EN |
| Montipora digitata | EN |
| Montipora dilatata | VU |
| Montipora echinata | EN |
| Montipora edwardsi | DD |
| Montipora efflorescens | EN |
| Montipora effusa | EN |
| Montipora ehrenbergii | DD |
| Montipora explanata | DD |
| Montipora flabellata | NT |
| Montipora florida | EN |
| Montipora floweri | EN |
| Montipora foliosa | EN |
| Montipora foveolata | EN |
| Montipora fragosa | DD |
| Montipora friabilis | EN |
| Montipora gaimardi | EN |
| Montipora gracilis | DD |
| Montipora grisea | EN |
| Montipora hemispherica | EN |
| Montipora hispida | EN |
| Montipora hodgsoni | EN |
| Montipora hoffmeisteri | VU |
| Montipora incrassata | EN |
| Montipora informis | EN |
| Montipora jonesi | DD |
| Montipora kellyi | VU |
| Montipora lobulata | EN |
| Montipora mactanensis | EN |
| Montipora maeandrina | EN |
| Montipora malampaya | EN |
| Montipora maldivensis | DD |
| Montipora manauliensis | DD |
| Montipora marshallensis | DD |
| Montipora millepora | VU |
| Montipora mollis | EN |
| Montipora monasteriata | VU |
| Montipora niugini | EN |
| Montipora nodosa | EN |
| Montipora orientalis | EN |
| Montipora pachytuberculata | EN |
| Montipora palawanensis | EN |
| Montipora patula | CR |
| Montipora peltiformis | EN |
| Montipora porites | EN |
| Montipora samarensis | EN |
| Montipora saudii | EN |
| Montipora setosa | EN |
| Montipora sinuosa | DD |
| Montipora spongiosa | EN |
| Montipora spongodes | EN |
| Montipora spumosa | EN |
| Montipora stellata | EN |
| Montipora stilosa | EN |
| Montipora suvadivae | DD |
| Montipora taiwanensis | EN |
| Montipora tortuosa | DD |
| Montipora tuberculosa | EN |
| Montipora turgescens | EN |
| Montipora turtlensis | EN |
| Montipora undata | EN |
| Montipora vaughani | DD |
| Montipora venosa | EN |
| Montipora verrilli | VU |
| Montipora verrucosa | VU |
| Montipora verruculosa | EN |
| Montipora vietnamensis | EN |
| Moseleya latistellata | LC |
| Mussa angulosa | NT |
| Mussismilia braziliensis | CR |
| Mussismilia harttii | EN |
| Mussismilia hispida | VU |
| Mussismilia leptophylla | CR |
| Mycedium elephantotus | LC |
| Mycedium mancaoi | LC |
| Mycedium robokaki | LC |
| Mycedium spina | DD |
| Mycedium steeni | LC |
| Mycedium umbra | LC |
| Mycetophyllia aliciae | LC |
| Mycetophyllia danaana | CR |
| Mycetophyllia ferox | CR |
| Mycetophyllia lamarckiana | NT |
| Mycetophyllia reesi | LC |
| Nemenzophyllia turbida | LC |
| Oculina arbuscula | LC |
| Oculina diffusa | LC |
| Oculina patagonica | LC |
| Oculina robusta | DD |
| Oculina tenella | DD |
| Oculina valenciennesi | DD |
| Oculina varicosa | LC |
| Orbicella annularis | EN |
| Orbicella faveolata | EN |
| Orbicella franksi | NT |
| Oulastrea crispata | LC |
| Oulophyllia bennettae | LC |
| Oulophyllia crispa | EN |
| Oulophyllia levis | LC |
| Oulophyllia wellsi | LC |
| Oxypora convoluta | LC |
| Oxypora crassispinosa | LC |
| Oxypora echinata | LC |
| Oxypora egyptensis | LC |
| Oxypora lacera | LC |
| Pachyseris foliosa | LC |
| Pachyseris gemmae | VU |
| Pachyseris inattesa | LC |
| Pachyseris involuta | LC |
| Pachyseris rugosa | LC |
| Pachyseris speciosa | LC |
| Palauastrea ramosa | LC |
| Paragoniastrea australensis | LC |
| Paragoniastrea deformis | LC |
| Paragoniastrea russelli | LC |
| Paramontastraea peresi | LC |
| Paramontastraea salebrosa | LC |
| Paramontastraea serageldini | LC |
| Pavona bipartita | LC |
| Pavona cactus | VU |
| Pavona chiriquiensis | VU |
| Pavona clavus | LC |
| Pavona danai | LC |
| Pavona decussata | LC |
| Pavona diffluens | LC |
| Pavona diminuta | DD |
| Pavona divaricata | LC |
| Pavona duerdeni | EN |
| Pavona explanulata | LC |
| Pavona frondifera | LC |
| Pavona gigantea | NT |
| Pavona maldivensis | LC |
| Pavona minuta | VU |
| Pavona varians | LC |
| Pavona venosa | LC |
| Pavona xarifae | DD |
| Pectinia africana | LC |
| Pectinia alcicornis | EN |
| Pectinia crassa | DD |
| Pectinia elongata | LC |
| Pectinia lactuca | EN |
| Pectinia laxa | DD |
| Pectinia maxima | LC |
| Pectinia paeonia | LC |
| Pectinia pygmaea | LC |
| Pectinia teres | LC |
| Physogyra lichtensteini | LC |
| Physophyllia ayleni | DD |
| Platygyra acuta | LC |
| Platygyra carnosa | LC |
| Platygyra contorta | LC |
| Platygyra crosslandi | LC |
| Platygyra daedalea | LC |
| Platygyra lamellina | LC |
| Platygyra pini | LC |
| Platygyra ryukyuensis | LC |
| Platygyra sinensis | LC |
| Platygyra verweyi | LC |
| Platygyra yaeyamaensis | LC |
| Plerogyra cauliformis | DD |
| Plerogyra diabolotus | DD |
| Plerogyra discus | LC |
| Plerogyra eurysepta | DD |
| Plerogyra multilobata | DD |
| Plerogyra simplex | LC |
| Plerogyra sinuosa | LC |
| Plesiastrea peroni | LC |
| Plesiastrea versipora | LC |
| Pleuractis alta | DD |
| Pleuractis granulosa | LC |
| Pleuractis gravis | LC |
| Pleuractis moluccensis | LC |
| Pleuractis paumotensis | EN |
| Pleuractis seychellensis | LC |
| Pleuractis taiwanensis | LC |
| Pocillopora acuta | EN |
| Pocillopora aliciae | EN |
| Pocillopora ankeli | EN |
| Pocillopora bairdi | DD |
| Pocillopora brevicornis | DD |
| Pocillopora capitata | EN |
| Pocillopora damicornis | EN |
| Pocillopora effusa | DD |
| Pocillopora elegans | EN |
| Pocillopora fungiformis | EN |
| Pocillopora grandis | LC |
| Pocillopora indiania | EN |
| Pocillopora inflata | DD |
| Pocillopora kelleheri | EN |
| Pocillopora ligulata | EN |
| Pocillopora mauritiana | DD |
| Pocillopora meandrina | EN |
| Pocillopora molokensis | VU |
| Pocillopora verrucosa | EN |
| Pocillopora woodjonesi | EN |
| Pocillopora zelli | EN |
| Podabacia crustacea | LC |
| Podabacia kunzmanni | DD |
| Podabacia lankaensis | DD |
| Podabacia motuporensis | LC |
| Podabacia sinai | DD |
| Polyphyllia novaehiberniae | LC |
| Polyphyllia talpina | LC |
| Porites alveolata | DD |
| Porites annae | LC |
| Porites aranetai | LC |
| Porites arnaudi | NT |
| Porites astreoides | LC |
| Porites attenuata | EN |
| Porites australiensis | LC |
| Porites branneri | NT |
| Porites brighami | LC |
| Porites cocosensis | LC |
| Porites colonensis | VU |
| Porites columnaris | LC |
| Porites compressa | LC |
| Porites cribripora | DD |
| Porites cumulatus | LC |
| Porites cylindrica | LC |
| Porites decasepta | DD |
| Porites deformis | LC |
| Porites densa | LC |
| Porites desilveri | VU |
| Porites divaricata | LC |
| Porites duerdeni | CR |
| Porites echinulata | LC |
| Porites eridani | LC |
| Porites evermanni | EN |
| Porites exserta | DD |
| Porites farasani | VU |
| Porites flavus | LC |
| Porites fontanesii | LC |
| Porites furcata | LC |
| Porites gabonensis | DD |
| Porites gaimardi | DD |
| Porites hadramauti | CR |
| Porites harrisoni | LC |
| Porites hawaiiensis | NT |
| Porites heronensis | EN |
| Porites horizontalata | EN |
| Porites latistellata | LC |
| Porites lichen | VU |
| Porites lobata | LC |
| Porites lutea | LC |
| Porites mannarensis | EN |
| Porites mayeri | LC |
| Porites minicoiensis | DD |
| Porites monticulosa | LC |
| Porites murrayensis | LC |
| Porites myrmidonensis | LC |
| Porites napopora | LC |
| Porites negrosensis | LC |
| Porites nigrescens | LC |
| Porites nodifera | LC |
| Porites okinawensis | LC |
| Porites ornata | LC |
| Porites palmata | DD |
| Porites panamensis | NT |
| Porites porites | LC |
| Porites profundus | LC |
| Porites pukoensis | DD |
| Porites randalli | EN |
| Porites rugosa | LC |
| Porites rus | LC |
| Porites silimaniana | LC |
| Porites solida | LC |
| Porites somaliensis | LC |
| Porites stephensoni | EN |
| Porites studeri | DD |
| Porites superfusa | EN |
| Porites sverdrupi | CR |
| Porites tuberculosus | LC |
| Porites vaughani | LC |
| Psammocora albopicta | LC |
| Psammocora columna | LC |
| Psammocora contigua | LC |
| Psammocora digitata | LC |
| Psammocora eldredgei | DD |
| Psammocora exesa | LC |
| Psammocora haimiana | LC |
| Psammocora nierstraszi | LC |
| Psammocora profundacella | LC |
| Psammocora stellata | LC |
| Pseudodiploria clivosa | NT |
| Pseudodiploria strigosa | CR |
| Pseudosiderastrea formosa | DD |
| Pseudosiderastrea tayamai | LC |
| Sandalolitha boucheti | LC |
| Sandalolitha dentata | LC |
| Sandalolitha robusta | LC |
| Schizoculina africana | DD |
| Schizoculina fissipara | DD |
| Sclerophyllia margariticola | LC |
| Sclerophyllia maxima | VU |
| Scolymia cubensis | CR |
| Scolymia lacera | CR |
| Scolymia wellsii | VU |
| Seriatopora aculeata | EN |
| Seriatopora caliendrum | VU |
| Seriatopora dendritica | VU |
| Seriatopora guttata | EN |
| Seriatopora hystrix | VU |
| Seriatopora octoptera | DD |
| Seriatopora spinosa | DD |
| Seriatopora stellata | EN |
| Siderastrea radians | LC |
| Siderastrea savignyana | LC |
| Siderastrea siderea | CR |
| Siderastrea stellata | LC |
| Simplastrea vesicularis | DD |
| Sinuorota hexagonalis | LC |
| Solenastrea bournoni | LC |
| Solenastrea hyades | LC |
| Stephanocoenia intersepta | NT |
| Stylaraea punctata | LC |
| Stylocoeniella armata | LC |
| Stylocoeniella cocosensis | LC |
| Stylocoeniella guentheri | LC |
| Stylophora danae | VU |
| Stylophora flabellata | DD |
| Stylophora kuehlmanni | VU |
| Stylophora madagascarensis | VU |
| Stylophora mamillata | EN |
| Stylophora pistillata | NT |
| Stylophora subseriata | EN |
| Stylophora wellsi | EN |
| Trachyphyllia geoffroyi | LC |
| Tubipora musica | LC |
| Turbinaria bifrons | LC |
| Turbinaria conspicua | LC |
| Turbinaria cylindrica | DD |
| Turbinaria frondens | LC |
| Turbinaria heronensis | LC |
| Turbinaria irregularis | LC |
| Turbinaria mesenterina | LC |
| Turbinaria patula | LC |
| Turbinaria radicalis | LC |
| Turbinaria reniformis | LC |
| Turbinaria stellulata | LC |
| Zoopilus echinatus | LC |
NOAA Coral Reef Watch (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) (2026) Coral Reef Watch: Satellite Monitoring and Modeled Outlooks. Available at: https://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/index.php (Accessed: December 12 2025).
Globally, over 98% or 146,557 km2 of coral reefs were under a bleaching alert in 2024.
See where coral reefs are safeguarded and how restoration efforts are expanding their coverage.
UNEP-WCMC, WorldFish Centre, WRI, TNC (2021). Global distribution of warm-water coral reefs, compiled from multiple sources including the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project. Version 4.1. Includes contributions from IMaRS-USF and IRD (2005), IMaRS-USF (2005) and Spalding et al. (2001). Cambridge (UK): UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Data DOI: https://doi.org/10.34892/t2wk-5t34
UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (2026), Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and World Database on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (WD-OECM) [Online], January 2026, Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC and IUCN. Available at: www.protectedplanet.net.
Globally, approximately 44% of coral reefs lie within established protected areas.
Duarte, C.M., Agustí, S., Barbier, E., Britten, G.L., Castilla, J.C., Gattuso, J.-P., Fulweiler, R.W., Hughes, T.P., Knowlton, N., Lovelock, C.E., Lotze, H.K., Predragovic, M., Poloczanska, E., Roberts, C. and Worm, B. (2020) Rebuilding marine life. Nature, 580(7801), pp. 39–51. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2146-7
Globally, there was an increase of 134 coral reef restoration projects between 1982 and 2018.
Restoring coral reefs preserves marine biodiversity, sustains fisheries, and protects coastal communities from storms.
Taking Action
-
Mitigate Climate Change
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to curb ocean warming and acidification is essential.
-
Coral Restoration Projects
Techniques such as coral gardening and transplantation can rehabilitate degraded reefs.
-
Marine Protected Areas
Expanding and strictly enforcing marine protected areas can shield coral reefs from overfishing and pollution, ensuring their long-term survival.
-
Improve Water Quality
Reducing land-based pollution through better agricultural practices and sewage treatment helps maintain coral health.
-
Protect and Rehabilitate Coastal Habitats
Safeguarding and restoring mangroves, seagrasses, and other coastal ecosystems is crucial. These habitats serve as nurseries for reef species and help improve water quality by filtering pollutants.
-
Reduce Local Stressors
Addressing local threats like pollution, overfishing, and harmful coastal development is essential. Implementing sustainable fishing practices, improving waste management, and regulating coastal development can significantly reduce pressure on coral reefs.
-
Enhance Coral Resilience
Innovative research is needed to boost coral resilience to climate change. This includes breeding heat-tolerant coral species, increasing genetic diversity, and developing techniques to improve coral tolerance to rising temperatures and ocean acidification.
-
Community-Led Conservation
Empowering local communities is key to long-term reef conservation. Providing education, resources, and alternative livelihoods helps engage local and Indigenous communities in managing and protecting reef ecosystems.
-
Eco-Friendly Recreation and Tourism
Encouraging sustainable tourism practices helps minimize damage to reefs while offering economic incentives for conservation. This can involve setting guidelines for snorkeling, diving, and anchoring to reduce reef stress.
-
Strengthen Policies
Governments and international bodies must enforce policies that prioritize coral reef protection. Integrating reef conservation into broader environmental and climate strategies is critical to their survival.
-
Coral Vita turns reef restoration into a scalable industry, protecting biodiversity while safeguarding coastal economies and climate resilience. -
Turning climate risk into restoration investment.
View relevant data layers on the globe using the available map toggle in the top right of each card in the left panel.
View relevant data layers on the globe using the available map toggle in the top right of each card in the left panel.
View relevant data layers on the globe using the available map toggle in the top right of each card in the left panel.