> South Africa had 142,579 asses in 2024, the 30th largest in the world (0.26% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.6%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/asses/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Asses](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# Asses in South Africa

South Africa had 142,579 asses in 2024, the 30th largest in the world (0.26% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.6%. The record was 345,000 head in 1961.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.

[Market prices in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/country/south-africa/)

Animals, 2024142,579 head
World rank30 of 104
10-year change−8.6%
Record345,000 head1961

## Asses in South Africa, 1961–2024 (head)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.26%0.33% in 2014
10-year change−8.6%world +13%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 28 | [Haiti](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/haiti/) | 160,213 | 0.30% |
| 29 | [Dominican Republic](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/dominican-republic/) | 158,278 | 0.29% |
| 30 | **South Africa** | 142,579 | 0.26% |
| 31 | [Lesotho](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/lesotho/) | 141,951 | 0.26% |
| 32 | [Tajikistan](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/tajikistan/) | 115,836 | 0.21% |

[Full ranking of 104 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/)

### Map of asses numbers by country

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 142,579 | −0.1% |
| 2023 | 142,768 | −0.1% |
| 2022 | 142,956 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 142,536 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 139,951 | −1.9% |
| 2019 | 142,596 | −2.1% |
| 2018 | 145,588 | −2.0% |
| 2017 | 148,587 | −1.9% |
| 2016 | 151,457 | −1.7% |
| 2015 | 154,079 | −1.2% |
| 2014 | 156,000 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 155,500 | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 152,500 | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 152,500 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 152,000 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 150,500 | 0.0% |
| 2008 | 150,500 | 0.0% |
| 2007 | 150,500 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 150,000 | 0.0% |
| 2005 | 150,000 | 0.0% |
| 2004 | 150,000 | 0.0% |
| 2003 | 150,000 | 0.0% |
| 2002 | 150,000 | 0.0% |
| 2001 | 150,000 | 0.0% |
| 2000 | 150,000 | −29% |
| 1999 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1998 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1997 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1996 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1995 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1994 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1993 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1992 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1991 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1990 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1989 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1988 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1987 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1986 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1985 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1984 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1983 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1982 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1981 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1980 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1979 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1978 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1977 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1976 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1975 | 210,000 | 0.0% |
| 1974 | 210,000 | −1.4% |
| 1973 | 213,000 | −0.9% |
| 1972 | 215,000 | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 210,000 | −2.3% |
| 1970 | 215,000 | −6.5% |
| 1969 | 230,000 | −8.0% |
| 1968 | 250,000 | −11% |
| 1967 | 280,000 | −9.7% |
| 1966 | 310,000 | −6.1% |
| 1965 | 330,000 | −1.5% |
| 1964 | 335,000 | −1.5% |
| 1963 | 340,000 | −0.9% |
| 1962 | 343,000 | −0.6% |
| 1961 | 345,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many asses are there in South Africa?

South Africa had 142,579 asses in 2024, 0.26% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does South Africa rank in the world by number of asses?

South Africa ranked 30th of 104 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in Ethiopia with 20.0% of the world total.

### How has the number of asses in South Africa changed?

It fell by 8.6% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +13% for the world. The record was 345,000 head in 1961.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for South Africa is imputed by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/ethiopia/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/sudan/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/pakistan/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/chad/)[Mexico](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/mexico/)[Niger](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/niger/)[Burkina Faso](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/burkina-faso/)[Iran](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/iran/)[Afghanistan](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/afghanistan/)[Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/nigeria/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/china/)[Mali](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/mali/)
[All countries producing asses](https://husfarm.com/production/asses/)

## Other products of South Africa

[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/south-africa/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/south-africa/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/south-africa/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/south-africa/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/south-africa/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/south-africa/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/south-africa/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/south-africa/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/south-africa/)[Soybeans](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/south-africa/)[Oranges](https://husfarm.com/production/oranges/south-africa/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/south-africa/)
[Agricultural production in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/production/country/south-africa/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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