Diversity
Diversity is a measure of how many different kinds of microbes live in your gut and how evenly they are represented in your sample. It is usually summarized as a single score rather than a list of who is present.
In much of the research, a richer, more even microbial community tends to travel with markers of gut resilience and general wellbeing, while consistently low diversity has been observed alongside a range of health conditions. Diversity is best read as one general signal of a community's overall state, not a verdict on any single microbe.
A higher diversity score can suggest a varied, more resilient community with many players filling different roles, which is often framed positively in the literature. Because this is a relative snapshot of one sample, higher is not automatically better in every context, and it should not be read as a diagnosis.
A lower diversity score can suggest a narrower community and is sometimes seen alongside recent antibiotics, illness, or a limited-variety diet, though a single low reading is not a diagnosis on its own.
Rather than chasing a target number, most guidance points toward supporting diversity over time through a varied, fiber-rich, plant-forward diet. Microbiome science is still young, so interpret your diversity score as a trend and discuss meaningful changes with a clinician.
Sources
Educational context only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex; always discuss your results with a clinician.