Stopping the Illegal Ivory Trade: Countries with the Most Elephant Ivory Seized (1990–2024)

From 1990 to 2024, over 130,000 kilograms of elephant ivory were seized in Kenya — the highest total worldwide over the period. China follows with 106,068 kg, with Hong Kong and Vietnam also ranking among the top countries with the most ivory seizures, at 75,706 kg and 71,255 kg respectively. These staggering figures highlight both the geographic scope of the illegal ivory trade and the ongoing challenges in enforcing bans and protecting endangered wildlife.

Despite a global ban on international ivory trade under CITES, the demand persists — driven largely by black market prices that can range from $1,000 to $3,000 per kilogram, depending on quality, region, and buyer. That means the ivory seized in Kenya alone could be worth upwards of $390 million on the black market. For traffickers, the high value makes the risk worthwhile — especially in regions with weak enforcement, porous borders, and high corruption.

Transit hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore continue to play a key role in global trafficking routes, while source and transit countries such as Mozambique and Nigeria face systemic issues that hamper anti-poaching efforts. Even with domestic ivory bans now in place in countries like China and Hong Kong, illicit networks remain active and well-funded.

This visualization is a stark reminder of the scale of elephant poaching — and the urgent need for coordinated international action, stronger enforcement, and demand reduction campaigns to break the cycle.