Energy & Environment

Shannon Diversity Index Calculator (H)

Calculate the Shannon diversity index for a species list from simple counts. It returns H, Pielou evenness, Simpson's 1−D, species richness, and a quality category.

How to use
  1. Enter the count for each species.
  2. Add a row for every species in your sample.
Community presets
Shannon diversity H′
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H′ = −Σ pi ln pi over all species.

Richness (S)
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Total (N)
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Pielou evenness (J)
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Max H (ln S)
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Simpson 1−D
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H base 10
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Estimates based on typical values; your real usage and rates will vary.
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How it's calculated

H = −Σ (pᵢ × ln pᵢ)

pᵢ = proportion of species i = count ÷ total N, S = number of species. H = Shannon diversity index; evenness J = H ÷ ln S; Simpson = 1 − Σpᵢ². Higher H means greater diversity.

Common questions

What does a higher Shannon index mean?

Higher H means greater diversity, reflecting both more species and a more even spread of individuals among them.

How is Shannon different from species richness?

Richness counts how many species are present. The Shannon index also weighs how evenly individuals are distributed across those species.

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