How Many Ants Are There in the World?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 12, 2023

Researchers Bert Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson wrote a book called “The Ants,” in which they estimate that there are over 10 quadrillion ants on the planet. Scientists surmise that ants comprise from 15 to 25 percent of the earth’s animal biomass. There are 12,762 known species of ants, and the estimated number of total ant species is more than 22,000.

The total weight of all the ants on Earth is estimated to be equal to that of all the humans. Ants inhabit every continent on earth except Antarctica, Greenland and a few islands in Hawaii and Polynesia. They are so successful because of their ability to form organized societies and communicate with each other.