Since first being assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature during 1988, populations of Rüppell's vulture have decreased. The species has been listed with an IUCN Red List status of "near threatened" since 2007 and the IUCN predicts that populations of the species will continue to decrease.[15] From 2012 to 2014 the Rüppell's vulture was listed as Endangered, however, In 2015 the species was reassessed and uplisted to Critically Endangered status.[16]
The Rüppell's vulture is currently listed as an Appendix II species under CITES, which regulates the international trade of animals and plants.[16] Under this designation, the Rüppell's vulture is defined as not being immediately at risk of extinction, however current population could become threatened without careful regulation of trade.[17]
Since 1992, Rüppell's vulture has been occurring as a vagrant in Spain and Portugal, with annual records since 1997, mainly in the Cadiz / Straits of Gibraltar area, but also further north.[1