Do you know that just 0.01% of the biomass on Earth consists of humans? We share our planet with amazing plants and animals that prevail in the total distribution of global biomass. If you are a nature enthusiast and want to explore the most biodiverse countries in the world, check out the list below for inspiration. Countries are ranked based on the Global Biodiversity Index by TheSwiftest.

　　Brazil  Indonesia Colombia China Mexico Australia Peru India Ecuador The United States

What Is The Global Biodiversity Index?

The Global Biodiversity Index was calculated using six groups of living organisms - vascular plants, mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish. The number of species of each group found in a country was compared to derive the biodiversity score. There are some caveats in this scoring system, as major groups like invertebrates were left out. Levels of endemism, intra-species diversity, size of a country, and its geographic location were also not taken into account.

　　

1. Brazil - 512.34

No. of bird species: 1,816 No. of amphibian species: 1,141 No. of fish species: 4,738 No. of mammal species: 693 No. of reptlilian species: 847 No. of vascular plant species: 34,387 A jaguar, the national animal of Brazil, in the waters of the Cuiaba River in the Pantanal wetlands in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Brazil is the fifth biggest country in the world and the largest one in South America. Different climate zones and environmental conditions help Brazil to be the most biodiverse country in the world. It is home to between 15 and 20% of the world's biological variety. The most wonderful thing is that biodiversity in Brazil continues to grow, with new species discovered every year.

　　The greatest number of endemic species live in Brazil. Some rare animals you can meet here are tayras, rheas, tapirs, capuchins, maned wolves, tamarins, armadillos, and bush dogs. The majestic jaguar is Brazil's national animal. The Amazon rainforest hosts tall Brazil nut trees, myriad palms, brazilwood enlaced with creepers, rosewood, water lilies, orchids, and the wild rubber tree.

　　

2. Indonesia - 418.78

No. of bird species: 1,723 No. of amphibian species: 383 No. of fish species: 4,813 No. of mammal species: 729 No. of reptlilian species: 772 No. of vascular plant species: 19,232 An orangutan in a rainforest in Indonesia. The archipelago of Indonesia contains thousands of islands. There are seven main biogeographic regions based on the largest islands and the surrounding waters. Indonesia boasts the third-largest rainforest in the world, as well as the well-known Coral Triangle.

　　Endangered species of Indonesian forests include Sumatran tigers, rhinos, and orangutans. Other rare and exciting animals you can find here are walking and tree-climbing mudskipper fish, Mahakam dolphins, and the Komodo dragons. The Rafflesia Arnoldi, or the Corps flower, is the largest, weighing around 15 pounds.

　　

3. Colombia - 369.76

No. of bird species: 1,863 No. of amphibian species: 812 No. of fish species: 2,105 No. of mammal species: 477 No. of reptlilian species: 634 No. of vascular plant species: 24,025 A pink dolphin in the river. Within a few days in Colombia, one can travel from the desert to the alpine tundra while traversing rainforests, rivers, and the ocean. This country has more bird and orchid species than any other, and it ranks second in plants, butterflies, and freshwater fish species.

　　Such unique animals as the Colombian Titi monkey, the Andean cock-of-the-rock, the pink dolphin, the mountain tapir, the blue anole, and the pirarucu live here. Colombia is a blooming country with thousands of flowers. The ones that stand out are roses, orchids, and carnations. And orchid Cattleya trianae is a national Columbia flower.

　　

4. China - 365.84

No. of bird species: 1,285 No. of amphibian species: 540 No. of fish species: 3,476 No. of mammal species: 622 No. of reptlilian species: 554 No. of vascular plant species: 31,362 A giant panda cub in Bifengxia Panda Base, Sichuan, China China is the third biggest country on our planet. Its diverse array of landscapes hosts 10% of the plants and 14% of the world's animals. But a lot of species are on the verge of extinction. The detrimental effects on biodiversity have been made worse by the overuse and unregulated exploitation of biological resources.

　　The giant panda is unique and the most famous rare animal in China. It is under threat, as well as the Himalayan brown bear, dhole, snow leopard, and tiger. Only in China can you find the metasequoia, Cathay silver fir, Chinese cypress, golden larch, eucommia, dove tree, and camptothecin acuminata.

　　

5. Mexico - 342.47

No. of bird species: 1,105 No. of amphibian species: 411 No. of fish species: 2629 No. of mammal species: 533 No. of reptlilian species: 988 No. of vascular plant species: 23,385 A beautiful Mexican Kite-Swallowtail in Mexico. The following mega-diverse country is Mexico, with between 10 and 12% of the world's species. The country ranks third worldwide in terms of the diversity of mammals and second among reptiles.

　　There are a lot of endemic species in Mexico. For instance, the vaquita, the Cozumel raccoon, the blue-crowned motmot, the volcano rabbit, the axolotl, the Mexican agouti, or the black-throated magpie-jay are rare animals you can meet here. Some native Mexican plants are Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia), Laelia Orchid, Pineapple Sage, Mexican Honeysuckle, Poinsettia, Mexican Marigold, etc.

　　

6. Australia - 337.18

No. of bird species: 725 No. of amphibian species: 245 No. of fish species: 4,992 No. of mammal species: 355 No. of reptlilian species: 1,131 No. of vascular plant species: 19,324 A gorgeous male gang-gang cockatoo in Australia. Australia is home to a variety of different ecosystems. Its geographical location habitats many unique species that could not live elsewhere on Earth. But many plants and animals face a severe threat because of deforestation.

　　The endemic animals you can meet here include the common ringtail possum, kangaroo, Parma wallaby, Tasmanian devil, galah, gang-gang cockatoo, and the Common wombat. And the rare plants you would be lucky to see are Gum trees (Eucalyptus), banksias, bottlebrushes, waratahs, kangaroo's paws, and spider flowers.

　　

7. Peru - 330.12

No. of bird species: 1,861 No. of amphibian species: 655 No. of fish species: 1,583 No. of mammal species: 490 No. of reptlilian species: 510 No. of vascular plant species: 19,812 A flock of parakeets in a Peruvian rainforest. Peru possesses the second-largest Amazon forest on the planet, which accounts for 70% of all the biodiversity on the Earth. Peru is in the top five countries worldwide for amphibians, animals, and plants. It is second only to Colombia in terms of bird diversity.

　　75% of Peru's 122 threatened species are protected, demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding its endangered species. From the endemic animals, you can meet Peruvian piedtails, yellow-tailed woolly monkeys, mimic poison frogs, white-tufted sunbeams, Junin crakes, and tit-like dacnis. Native plant species include Machu Picchu Bamboo, Amazon Lily, Eucharis, Peruvian Sundew, Peruvian Wild Tomato, etc.

　　

8. India - 301.63

No. of bird species: 1,212 No. of amphibian species: 446 No. of fish species: 2,601 No. of mammal species: 440 No. of reptlilian species: 715 No. of vascular plant species: 45,000 A tiger drinking water from a water hole in India's Ranthambhore National Park. India occupies 2.4% of the world's land area and hosts 7-8% of all species. The country ranks fifth for reptiles, tenth for birds, and seventh for mammals in terms of biodiversity richness. Such endemic animals as the Asiatic lion, Kashmir stag, lion-tailed macaque, purple frog, sangai deer, and Nilgiri tahr live in India. Some of the most prominent rare plant species are Crotalaria shrirangiana, Tephrosia calophylla, Brachystelma penchalakonense, and Brachystelma gondwanense.

　　

9. Ecuador - 291.58

No. of bird species: 1,629 No. of amphibian species: 659 No. of fish species: 1,111 No. of mammal species: 392 No. of reptlilian species: 492 No. of vascular plant species: 18,466 A visitor photographing the famous marine iguanas of Galapagos, Ecuador. Thanks to its advantageous location in the Neotropics, Ecuador is a rich tropical area. Even though the size of the country is not so big, it has the most flora species per area compared to other countries in South America. Ecuador is home to 7% of the world's recognized mammal species and 18% of all discovered birds worldwide. The endemic fauna includes marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, Galapagos hawks, and vampire ground finch. From the rare plants, you can find Dracula vampira, Bejaria subsessilis, Juglans neotropica, Gentianella longibarbata, and Polylepis microphylla. 

　　

10. The United States - 280.13

No. of bird species: 844 No. of amphibian species: 326 No. of fish species: 3,081 No. of mammal species: 531 No. of reptlilian species: 556 No. of vascular plant species: 15,500 A herd of bison in Yellowstone National Park, USA. The US has an astonishing array of habitats, ranging from tundra to tropical jungles, thanks to its enormous size. The country holds high positions in terms of fish species. You can meet such rare animals while traveling through the US: Mohave ground squirrels, Idaho ground squirrels, Utah prairie dogs, giant kangaroo rats, black-footed ferrets, and gopher tortoises. Among endemic plants are Nevada primrose, Nachlinger's catchfly, Arnica venosa, Frasera montana, and Hawaiin coastal sandalwood.

　　Read MoreThe World's 10 Greenest Countries

　　Tropical regions are the most biodiverse. Four of the listed countries are in South America. Amazon's rainforest is a top location to meet the most beautiful flora and fauna. Also, countries with vast territories in different climate zones can surprise you with diverse creatures. Save this list and plan your trip to one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

　　Read MoreCountries With The Greatest Number Of Wild Tigers

　　

The 20 Most Biodiverse Countries In The World

Rank	Country	Biodiversity Index
1	Brazil	512.34
2	Indonesia	418.78
3	Colombia	369.76
4	China	365.84
5	Mexico	342.47
6	Australia	337.18
7	Peru	330.12
8	India	301.63
9	Ecuador	291.58
10	United States	280.13
11	Venezuela	273.39
12	Papua New Guinea	226.57
13	Myanmar	221.77
14	Vietnam	216.97
15	Malaysia	214.71
16	Democratic Rep. of the Congo	214.43
17	Tanzania	213.10
18	Bolivia	209.55
19	South Africa	207.94
20	Thailand	200.77