The 2025 Map Where Tigers Live: 6 Surviving Subspecies And Their Astonishing Range

The global map where tigers live is a patchwork of hope and crisis, a stark reminder of both conservation success and the ongoing fight against extinction. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the world's largest cat occupies a mere 7% of its historical range, yet the total wild population is now estimated to be between 3,726 and 5,578 individuals—a monumental increase from the all-time low recorded a decade ago. Understanding the current distribution of these apex predators is crucial, as their survival hinges on protecting the fragmented habitats across Asia, from the frigid taiga of the Russian Far East to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra.

The latest data, including India’s 2023 Tiger Census, provides an updated picture of the 13 official Tiger Range Countries (TRCs). This detailed guide maps out exactly where the six surviving subspecies of *Panthera tigris* roam today, highlighting the critical conservation hotspots and the specific threats each population faces in their isolated territories. This is not just a map of locations; it is a live status report on one of the planet's most endangered and iconic species.

The Global Tiger Map: Current Range and Historical Decline

The tiger's historical distribution once stretched across a vast area of Asia, from Turkey in the west to the Russian Far East and the Indonesian islands in the east. Today, their presence is confined to scattered populations in just 13 countries, a staggering loss of over 93% of their former range. This dramatic contraction is primarily due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and relentless poaching.

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The current map of tiger distribution is concentrated across South, Southeast, and East Asia. The Global Tiger Forum (GTF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) monitor these populations closely, providing the most recent figures that fuel conservation strategies worldwide.

Top Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) by Population

The majority of the world's wild tigers are concentrated in a handful of nations, known as the Tiger Range Countries. The success stories in these regions are the primary reason the global population is currently stable or increasing:

• India: Leading the conservation charge, India's tiger population reached 3,682 individuals as of the 2023 census, making it home to approximately 75% of the world's wild tigers.
• Russia: Home to the Amur (Siberian) tiger, Russia's population is estimated to be around 540 to 562 individuals, primarily in the Russian Far East.
• Nepal: A major success story, Nepal became the first country to double its tiger population by 2022, with an estimated 355 tigers.
• Indonesia: The sole habitat of the critically endangered Sumatran tiger, with a population estimated at around 600 individuals.
• Bhutan and Thailand: Both countries maintain smaller but stable populations, with Thailand having approximately 189 tigers.

Other countries with small, often fragmented populations include Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, and a few others where the tiger's presence is either uncertain or near extinction, such as Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

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The Six Surviving Subspecies: A Detailed Distribution Guide

Taxonomists currently recognize six extant (surviving) subspecies of *Panthera tigris*. Their distribution is highly isolated, which underscores the importance of local, specialized conservation efforts.

1. Bengal Tiger (*Panthera tigris tigris*)

The Bengal tiger is the most numerous subspecies, making up the vast bulk of the global population. Their habitat ranges across diverse ecosystems, including tropical dry forests, grasslands, and the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans.

• Primary Range: India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
• Key Entity Hotspots: Ranthambore National Park (India), Bandhavgarh National Park (India), Chitwan National Park (Nepal), and the Sundarbans (India/Bangladesh).

2. Amur (Siberian) Tiger (*Panthera tigris altaica*)

Known for its thick coat and large size, the Amur tiger is the largest cat subspecies. It is adapted to the harsh, snowy environments of the Russian Far East, where the Amur River forms a crucial part of its territory.

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• Primary Range: Russian Far East (Sikhote-Alin mountains), and a small, re-emerging population in Northeast China.
• Population Status: Estimated around 540-562 wild individuals in Russia.

3. Sumatran Tiger (*Panthera tigris sumatrae*)

The Sumatran tiger is the only surviving tiger population in the Sunda Islands and is classified as Critically Endangered. Its range is confined exclusively to the dense, tropical forests of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

• Primary Range: Sumatra, Indonesia.
• Key Threats: Rapid deforestation for palm oil plantations and illegal wildlife trade.
• Population Status: Estimated to be around 600 individuals.

4. Indochinese Tiger (*Panthera tigris corbetti*)

The Indochinese tiger once roamed widely across Southeast Asia, but its current distribution is severely fragmented. Significant populations have been lost in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

• Primary Range: Primarily restricted to remote, protected forests in Thailand and Myanmar.
• Latest News: A late 2023 survey in Thailand showed a promising increase, capturing images of 94 individuals, a rise from the previous count of 75.

5. Malayan Tiger (*Panthera tigris jacksoni*)

Endemic to the Malay Peninsula, this subspecies was only recognized as distinct in 2004. It is Critically Endangered, facing immense pressure from development and poaching in Peninsular Malaysia.

• Primary Range: Peninsular Malaysia.
• Population Status: Highly threatened, with an estimated wild population of only about 150 individuals as of recent reports.

6. South China Tiger (*Panthera tigris amoyensis*)

The South China tiger holds the tragic status of being the most critically endangered subspecies, and is now classified as Possibly Extinct in the Wild.

• Current Location: No confirmed wild sightings for decades. The entire population survives in captive breeding programs, with approximately 250 animals nationwide in China.

Conservation Hotspots and The Future of Tiger Habitats

The map of where tigers live is constantly being redrawn by the tireless work of conservationists. The goal of "Tx2"—the effort to double the wild tiger population by 2022—has seen remarkable progress, though the threats remain complex and pervasive.

Success Stories and Recovery Zones

The success in the Tiger Range Countries is largely due to three key areas: expanding Tiger Conservation Landscapes (TCLs), strengthening anti-poaching laws, and community involvement. Nepal’s achievement in nearly tripling its population since 2009 is a global benchmark for tiger recovery. India’s commitment to reserve expansion and strict monitoring, utilizing advanced mapping technology and topo maps to track territories, has been instrumental in its population boom.

Emerging Threats to the Tiger's Range

Despite the positive trends, the tiger's survival is not guaranteed. New and continuing threats are actively shrinking the viable tiger habitat:

• Habitat Fragmentation: Infrastructure development and agricultural expansion isolate tiger populations, preventing genetic exchange and increasing human-wildlife conflict.
• Climate Change: Rising sea levels pose a direct threat to low-lying habitats like the Sundarbans, home to a unique population of Bengal tigers.
• Illegal Wildlife Trade: A worsening global crisis, with high rates of tiger trafficking threatening to undermine years of conservation work, especially in Southeast Asia.
• Prey Depletion: Low prey availability is a major constraint on recovery, particularly for the low-density populations of the Indochinese tiger.

The current map where tigers live is a fluid document. Every year, new data emerges from camera traps and satellite imagery, providing a clearer picture of their spatial ecological niche and allowing conservationists to make smarter, more targeted interventions. The long-term survival of the tiger depends on securing these remaining, critical habitats and ensuring that their range can expand once again.