The Earth is home to approximately 20 quadrillion ants, surpassing the biomass of all wild mammals and birds combined. Biologists estimate that there are around 15,700 species of these social insects, but there are likely twice as many on Earth. Researchers from the University of Würzburg have investigated the total number of ants on Earth. According to their publication in the journal PNAS, they arrived at the astonishing number of 20 quadrillion ants. This means that there are approximately 2.5 million ants per person. The total weight of these six-legged insects also exceeds the weight of all wild mammals and birds on Earth.
The study utilized 450 studies as a data source, which included exact counts from around 1,300 locations on all continents and the most important habitats. The researchers found that almost two-thirds (61%) of all above-ground ants live in tropical savannas and tropical rainforests. Of the known 15,700 species, more than 15,000 live in the tropics. However, the scientists believe that there are likely even more ants on Earth, as there are no precise numbers for some ecosystems and regions.
Previous calculations estimated a significantly smaller ant population. In 1994, two American biologists estimated that there were between one and ten quadrillion ants on our planet. However, their calculations were based solely on ant density in southern England, which they then extrapolated to the entire Earth. The new study shows that the number of ants on Earth is much higher than previously thought, and it highlights the importance of considering the diversity of ecosystems and regions when estimating populations.
