The geographical distribution of lions has suffered a dramatic historical contraction, with their range shrinking to just 8% of what it once was.

Historically, these powerful predators roamed far beyond Africa, including parts of southern Europe—like Greece and the Balkans—and across the Middle East, extending deep into Asia. Ancient cultures revered them as symbols of power until they were hunted to local extinction in Europe around the first century AD.

This massive decline is largely attributed to habitat loss from human expansion, coupled with retaliatory killings over livestock predation and poaching.

Today, wild populations are isolated and concentrated primarily in sub-Saharan Africa: 🇹🇿 Tanzania is home to the largest wild population, estimated at around 14,500 individuals, benefiting from significant protected areas and ecotourism.

A notable exception is the critically endangered Asiatic lion subspecies, which survives only in the Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat, 🇮🇳 India.