Discovering the Most Powerful Animal in the World, Pound for Pound

From the sheer power of the African bush elephant to the astonishing lifting capacity of the dung beetle, the animal kingdom boasts some of the strongest creatures on Earth. Their diverse abilities highlight the many forms strength can take across the globe.

But which creature holds the title of the strongest animal in the world?

The answer varies based on the criteria used. Here, we’ve ranked the top five strongest animals in three categories: relative strength, absolute lifting power, and bite force. Which animal stands out as the most remarkable? The choice is yours.

The Strongest Animal Proportional to Its Body Size

You might be surprised to learn that insects rank among the strongest creatures in nature, particularly when it comes to animals capable of carrying loads far exceeding their own body weight.

1. Dung Beetle (1,141x Body Weight)

The dung beetle holds the title of the world’s strongest insect, able to pull an astonishing 1,141 times its own body weight. To put this into perspective, it’s like an average person hauling six double-decker buses.

Despite their small size, dung beetles demonstrate how even the tiniest creatures can possess extraordinary strength, effortlessly rolling dung balls much larger than themselves.

While dung beetles may not win any beauty contests, they play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down manure into nutrients that support various forms of life.

2. Rhinoceros Beetle (850x Body Weight)

Rhinoceros beetles possess the ability to lift objects 850 times their body weight, using their extraordinary strength to fend off competitors and transport heavy loads. These powerful insects are notable for their size, even among other large insects, with some individuals weighing up to ounces (99 grams).

3. Leafcutter Ant (50x Body Weight)

Leafcutter ants use their strong jaws to transport items 50 times their body weight, showcasing remarkable strength for their small size — roughly the size of a pencil eraser.

These herbivorous insects scale trees and traverse rough landscapes, hauling their heavy cargo back to their colonies.

4. Gorilla (4x Body Weight)

Gorillas, with their powerful arms and the ability to lift over four times their body weight, are the strongest mammals relative to their size. An adult gorilla can reach nearly 6 feet tall (1.8 meters) and weigh up to 400 pounds (181 kg).

This exceptional strength isn’t limited to their arms but extends across their entire muscular frame, allowing them to effortlessly move heavy objects.

5. Eagle (2x Body Weight)

Eagles, the strongest birds in terms of carrying capacity, can lift and fly with prey nearly twice their body weight. The harpy eagle, boasting a wingspan of up to 6.5 feet (2 meters), can carry up to 40 pounds (18 kg).

This incredible strength, paired with their robust legs and wings, enables eagles to seize and transport prey even while airborne.

The Strongest Animal in Terms of Pure Lifting Ability

When discussing sheer lifting power, the top contenders include some of the planet’s largest and heaviest animals.

1. African Bush Elephant (13,230 Pounds)

The African bush elephant, the largest land animal, also holds the title of the world’s strongest creature in terms of raw power, capable of lifting an incredible 13,230 pounds (6,000 kg). That’s roughly equivalent to the weight of four and a half Honda Civics.

African bush elephants rely on their enormous size and muscular legs to transport and manipulate large objects in their habitats. An adult male can weigh up to 13,000 pounds (6 metric tons), and these powerful animals can live for as long as 70 years.

2. Musk Ox (1,980 Pounds)

Musk oxen are remarkably strong mammals, able to lift up to 1,980 pounds (900 kg). Their incredible strength and thick undercoat, known as qiviut, help them endure harsh climates and drag heavy loads across rough terrain in extreme weather.

Musk oxen inhabit regions like Alaska, Canada, and Siberia. Despite their resemblance to cattle, they are actually part of the goat family. A fully grown male Alaskan musk ox can weigh as much as 800 pounds (363 kg).

3. Gorilla (1,800 Pounds)

Gorillas can lift an astonishing 1,800 pounds (815 kg), ranking them among the strongest animals both in absolute lifting power and relative to their body size. Interestingly, humans and gorillas share approximately 96 percent of our DNA.

So, who can lift more—an adult male gorilla or an adult male human? When it comes to extraordinary human lifting achievements, the results are truly remarkable.

In 1993, Canadian Gregg Ernst set a world record for the heaviest weight ever lifted by a human, using his back to hoist two cars and their drivers, totaling 5,340 pounds (2,422 kg). This feat makes a compelling argument for including humans on this list.

4. White Rhino (1,760 Pounds)

Classified as "near threatened" by the IUCN Red List, white rhinos can hoist weights up to 1,760 pounds (800 kg), earning them a well-deserved place among the planet's strongest animals.

Renowned for their colossal size, weighing between 4,400 and 5,300 pounds (2 to 2.5 metric tons), these giants rely on their sheer power to fend off predators and rivals in their natural habitats.

5. Tiger (1,210 Pounds)

Tigers, known for their agility surpassing that of lions, can haul approximately 1,210 pounds (550 kg) and sprint at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour (65 kph), solidifying their status as one of the strongest and most formidable predators on Earth.

Not far behind the tiger is the grizzly bear, capable of lifting around 1,100 pounds (500 kg) and equipped with jaws that exert a crushing bite force of 1,160 pounds per square inch (psi).

The Animal With the Strongest Bite

Reptiles lead the rankings when it comes to the strongest bite force in the animal kingdom.

1. Nile Crocodile (5,000 psi)

With a bite force of 5,000 PSI, the Nile crocodile claims the crown for the most powerful bite in the animal kingdom. This immense strength enables them to effortlessly shatter the bones of their victims, cementing their reputation as one of nature's most fearsome hunters.

Measuring between 13 to 15 feet (4 to 5 meters) long, these creatures can weigh up to 1,300 pounds (600 kg).

2. Saltwater Crocodile (3,700 psi)

The saltwater crocodile ranks second with a bite force of 3,700 psi. These colossal reptiles, armed with their crushing jaws, dominate their ecosystems as apex predators, capable of overpowering sizable prey in a single, decisive strike.

As the largest crocodile species globally, they can reach lengths of up to 23 feet (7 meters).

3. American Alligator (2,125 psi)

The American alligator, renowned for its immense strength, boasts a bite force of up to 2,125 psi. Their robust jaws position them as dominant predators in their habitats, enabling them to swiftly overpower their prey with a single bite.

Typically, males measure around 11 feet (3.4 meters) in length and can replace as many as 3,000 teeth over their lifetime, ensuring their bite remains sharp and effective.

4. Hippopotamus (1,800 psi)

With a bite force of 1,800 psi, the hippopotamus is a powerhouse of strength. Despite their calm demeanor, hippos are fiercely territorial and can unleash their aggression, leveraging their massive jaws and 9,900 pounds (4.5 metric tons) of sheer muscle to defend their domain.

5. Jaguar (1,500 psi)

Though smaller than many on this list, the jaguar weighs between 100 and 250 pounds (45 to 113 kg), making it a compact yet powerful predator.

With a bite force of 1,500 psi, the jaguar boasts the strongest bite among big cats. Their robust jaws enable them to crush the skulls of their prey, showcasing their unmatched strength and cementing their status as one of nature's most fearsome hunters.