Bees in Australia
Australia had 500,220 bees in 2024, the 28th largest in the world (0.49% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 3.8%. The record was 668,672 head in 2018.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 500,220 head
- World rank
- 28 of 98
- 10-year change
- −3.8%
- Record
- 668,672 head
- 2018
Bees in Australia, 1961–2024 (head)
Australia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.49%
- 0.59% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −3.8%
- world +15%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Syria | 532,545 | 0.52% |
| 27 | Czechia | 510,000 | 0.50% |
| 28 | Australia | 500,220 | 0.49% |
| 29 | Algeria | 440,934 | 0.43% |
| 30 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 432,025 | 0.42% |
Map of bees numbers by country
Share of the world total; Australia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 500,220 | −2.7% |
| 2023 | 513,886 | −6.3% |
| 2022 | 548,495 | −1.7% |
| 2021 | 557,726 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 551,807 | −2.9% |
| 2019 | 568,052 | −15% |
| 2018 | 668,672 | +23% |
| 2017 | 543,053 | +15% |
| 2016 | 472,141 | +7.2% |
| 2015 | 440,626 | −15% |
| 2014 | 520,000 | −0.2% |
| 2013 | 521,081 | +127% |
| 2012 | 230,000 | −4.2% |
| 2011 | 240,000 | −27% |
| 2010 | 330,000 | −2.9% |
| 2009 | 340,000 | −5.6% |
| 2008 | 360,000 | −2.2% |
| 2007 | 368,000 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 365,000 | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 360,000 | 0.0% |
| 2004 | 360,000 | 0.0% |
| 2003 | 360,000 | 0.0% |
| 2002 | 360,000 | −5.3% |
| 2001 | 380,000 | −11% |
| 2000 | 428,000 | +26% |
| 1999 | 339,000 | −14% |
| 1998 | 396,000 | −19% |
| 1997 | 486,000 | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 466,000 | −4.7% |
| 1995 | 489,000 | +5.2% |
| 1994 | 465,000 | +29% |
| 1993 | 361,678 | −1.2% |
| 1992 | 366,000 | −4.7% |
| 1991 | 384,000 | −5.2% |
| 1990 | 405,000 | 0.0% |
| 1989 | 405,000 | +11% |
| 1988 | 366,000 | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 364,000 | −35% |
| 1986 | 560,000 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 553,000 | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 530,000 | −1.3% |
| 1983 | 537,000 | −2.6% |
| 1982 | 551,518 | +3.9% |
| 1981 | 530,907 | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 510,812 | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 501,153 | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 478,617 | −2.9% |
| 1977 | 492,942 | −0.8% |
| 1976 | 497,037 | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 491,354 | +20% |
| 1974 | 409,238 | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 395,393 | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 384,000 | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 375,570 | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 367,943 | +22% |
| 1969 | 301,073 | −16% |
| 1968 | 360,238 | +13% |
| 1967 | 318,913 | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 310,223 | −4.8% |
| 1965 | 326,000 | −4.0% |
| 1964 | 339,609 | +12% |
| 1963 | 303,347 | −13% |
| 1962 | 347,092 | +7.3% |
| 1961 | 323,447 | — |
Questions and answers
How many bees are there in Australia?
Australia had 500,220 bees in 2024, 0.49% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Australia rank in the world by number of bees?
Australia ranked 28th of 98 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in India with 12.4% of the world total.
How has the number of bees in Australia changed?
It fell by 3.8% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +15% for the world. The record was 668,672 head in 2018.
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 Australia is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.