The World’s Most Endangered Whales

Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to know or estimate the population sizes of whales. There are some whales that scientists understand well enough to track and get an estimate, but there are also several not discovered until recently, and even more that they only know a little about. This makes it hard to know the most endangered whales in the world.

For example, many beaked whales, like the spade-toothed beaked whale, have population sizes that are completely unknown and scientists can’t even begin to fathom an estimation. It could be lower than even number one on this list, or there could be enough to not even make it into the top 20. Without proper research, it’s impossible to know for sure.

Based on the species scientists know well enough to understand population sizes, the 18 whales below are some of the most endangered in the entire world. Keep reading to find out which ones they are.

18. Long-Finned Pilot Whales

Scientific Name:Globicephala melas

Population Size: 1 million individuals

Where Found Around the US: New England and the Mid-Atlantic region

Status: Not endangered or threatened

17. Sperm Whale

Scientific Name:Physeter macrocephalus

Population Size: 300,000 individuals

Where Found Around the US: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Alaska, West Coast, and Southeast

Status: Endangered throughout the entirety of its range

16. Beluga Whales

Scientific Name:Delphinapterus leucas

Population Size: Up to 200,000 individuals

Where Found Around the US: Alaska

Status: The Cook Inlet beluga whales are considered endangered, and all individuals are protected

15. Short-Finned Pilot Whales

Scientific Name:Globicephala macrorhynchus

Population Size: 200,000 individuals

Where Found Around the US: Alaska, New England, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, and the West Coast

Status: Currently not considered endangered

14. Narwhal

Scientific Name:Monodon monoceros

Population Size: Roughly 170,000 individuals

Where Found Around the US: Alaska

Status: Narwhals are not considered endangered

13. Bryde’s Whale

Scientific Name:Balaenoptera edeni

Population Size: Around 100,000 individuals

Where FoundAround US: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, and the West Coast

Status: Considered vulnerable

12. Fin Whale

Scientific Name:Balaenoptera physalus

Population Size: Between 50,000 and 90,000 individuals

Where Found Around the US: The West Coast, Southeast, Pacific Islands, New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Alaska

Status: Endangered throughout its entire range

11. Humpback Whale

Scientific Name:Megaptera novaeangliae

Population Size: 80,000 individuals

Where Found Around the US: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, the West Coast, and Alaska

Status: Considered threatened or endangered throughout its range

10. Sei Whale

Scientific Name:Balaenoptera borealis

Population Size: Roughly 50,000 individuals

Where Found Around the US: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, The West Coast, and Alaska

Status: Considered endangered throughout its range

9. Omura’s Whale

Scientific Name:Balaenoptera omurai

Population Size: Roughly 50,000 individuals

Where Found: The Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans

Status: These whales are currently listed as unknown

8. Northern Bottlenose Whale

Scientific Name:Hyperoodon ampullatus

Population Size: Up to 45,000 individuals

Where Found Around the US: New England and the Mid-Atlantic

Status: Not considered endangered

7. Gray Whale

Scientific Name:Eschrichtius robustus

Population Size: 27,000 individuals

Where Found: Alaska and the West Coast

Status: Considered endangered in the Western North Pacific

6. Bowhead Whale

Scientific Name:Balaena mysticetus

Population Size: 16,000 individuals

Where Found: Alaska

Status: Considered endangered throughout its range

5. Blue Whale

Scientific Name:Balaenoptera musculus

Population Size: 10,000 to 15,000 individuals

Where Found Around the US: Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast, New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Alaska

Status: Considered endangered throughout its range

4. Southern Right Whale

Scientific Name:Eubalaena australis

Population Size: 4,000 individuals

Where Found: South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia

Status: Considered endangered throughout its range

3. North Pacific Right Whale

Scientific Name:Eubalaena japonica

Population Size: 500 individuals

Where Found: Alaska and the West Coast

Status: Endangered throughout its range

2. North Atlantic Right Whale

Scientific Name:Eubalaena glacialis

Population Size: 260 individuals

Where Found Around the US: New England, Mid-Atlantic, and the Southeast

Status: Considered endangered throughout its habitat

1. Rice’s Whale

Scientific Name:Balaenoptera ricei

Population Size: Likely no more than 51 individuals left

Where Found: Around the US: Around the southeast

Status: Considered heavily endangered or near extinction