3,682
Wild tigers, 2022
Estimate from the fifth All India Tiger Estimation.
Tiger conservation in India
Save the Tigers.
Protect India's apex predator.
India is home to the majority of the world's wild tigers. The numbers have been climbing for fifteen years, but the recovery is fragile and uneven. Here is what the official data says, what still threatens them, and how you can help.
3,682
Estimated wild tigers in India All India Tiger Estimation, 2022 (statistical range 3,167–3,925)
01 — The numbers
What the official data says
Every figure on this page is taken from government census and parliamentary records. Sources are listed at the bottom.
3,167–3,925
Statistical range
Tigers aren't counted one by one, so the estimate comes with a range.
+161%
Since 2006
From 1,411 tigers in the first scientific estimation.
2,701
Wildlife-crime cases
Registered across all species, 2020–2024, per government data.
Top four tiger states
Tiger estimates by state, 2018 vs 2022.
2018 2022
02 — Growth over time
Fifteen years of recovery
India's national tiger estimate has been repeated every four years since 2006. Every point below is an official estimate, not a projection.
| Year | Estimated tigers |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,411 |
| 2010 | 1,706 |
| 2014 | 2,226 |
| 2018 | 2,967 |
| 2022 | 3,682 |
03 — The challenges
What tigers still face
A rising national total doesn't mean every landscape is secure. In the 2018 and 2022 estimates, Mizoram and Nagaland each recorded zero tigers.
Habitat loss & fragmentation
Roads, mining, farming and growing settlements cut the corridors tigers need to disperse, find mates and reach new territory. Isolated populations are far more vulnerable.
What helps: protecting wildlife corridors and keeping reserves connected.
Poaching & illegal trade
Organised wildlife crime targets tiger skins and body parts. Across all species, India registered 2,701 wildlife-crime cases between 2020 and 2024.
What helps: intelligence sharing, trained front-line staff, and public reporting of suspicious activity.
Human–tiger conflict
As tiger numbers rise and people live closer to forests, livestock losses and retaliation become more likely, hurting both families and tigers.
What helps: quick compensation, early-warning systems and community-led programmes.
04 — Take action
Do more for tigers
Support the organisations doing the work, report wildlife crime, and travel responsibly.
Donate
WWF-India
Funds corridor protection, field monitoring and community conflict programmes. Online donations on this page are for Indian nationals; donations are eligible for 80G tax relief.
donate.wwfindia.org → SupportWildlife Trust of India
Works on wildlife rescue, enforcement and law, conflict mitigation and training front-line forest staff.
wti.org.in → OfficialNational Tiger Conservation Authority
The statutory body that oversees Project Tiger and publishes tiger status reports.
ntca.gov.in → LearnRead the census data
State-by-state tiger estimates for 2006 to 2022, as published by the Government of India's Press Information Bureau (PDF).
pib.gov.in → Report
Report poaching or illegal trade
A 2022 environment ministry notice says the national toll-free number 1800 11 9334 can be used to report illegal wildlife trade and poaching. You can also contact your local forest department. Please confirm current numbers on official sites.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau → Travel
Visit tigers responsibly
- Choose licensed operators and follow forest department rules.
- Keep quiet, keep your distance, never chase or crowd an animal.
- Don't feed wildlife or leave litter.
- Don't post live locations of sightings.
Spread the stripes
Add a sticker to your website or blog. Each snippet is self-contained and links back to this page.
Sources
Where the numbers come from
- Press Information Bureau, Annexure: tiger estimates by state, 2006–2022
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, parliamentary answer (Dec 2024): 3,682 tigers, range 3,167–3,925
- National Tiger Conservation Authority: About us
- Deccan Herald (Aug 2025): 2,701 wildlife-crime cases 2020–2024, from Lok Sabha reply
- MoEFCC notice (Nov 2022): toll-free number for wildlife crime
- WWF-India: work for tiger conservation
Latest completed national estimate: 2022. Figures are estimates with statistical uncertainty. This is an independent awareness project and is not affiliated with any government body or organisation listed above.