Bees in Germany
Germany had 1.0 million bees in 2024, the 17th largest in the world (1.00% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 37%. The record was 2.0 million head in 1961.
- Animals, 2024
- 1.0 million head
- World rank
- 17 of 98
- 10-year change
- +37%
- Record
- 2.0 million head
- 1961
Bees in Germany, 1961–2024 (head)
Germany compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.00%
- 0.84% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +37%
- world +15%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Serbia | 1,171,658 | 1.2% |
| 16 | Brazil | 1,039,216 | 1.0% |
| 17 | Germany | 1,013,000 | 1.00% |
| 18 | Canada | 745,945 | 0.73% |
| 19 | Uzbekistan | 742,489 | 0.73% |
Map of bees numbers by country
Share of the world total; Germany is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,013,000 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 1,000,000 | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 996,000 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 982,000 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 951,000 | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 916,000 | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 879,000 | +7.2% |
| 2017 | 820,000 | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 771,850 | −0.0% |
| 2015 | 771,851 | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 741,461 | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 708,775 | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 698,714 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 695,052 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 685,441 | −1.4% |
| 2009 | 694,851 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 691,689 | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 669,999 | −4.1% |
| 2006 | 698,290 | −5.5% |
| 2005 | 738,933 | −1.5% |
| 2004 | 750,525 | −11% |
| 2003 | 838,832 | −4.9% |
| 2002 | 881,987 | −1.2% |
| 2001 | 892,723 | −1.0% |
| 2000 | 902,000 | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 899,000 | −2.0% |
| 1998 | 917,000 | −3.7% |
| 1997 | 952,000 | −7.4% |
| 1996 | 1,028,000 | −1.8% |
| 1995 | 1,047,000 | −3.5% |
| 1994 | 1,085,000 | −3.1% |
| 1993 | 1,120,000 | −4.1% |
| 1992 | 1,168,000 | −3.9% |
| 1991 | 1,215,000 | −24% |
| 1990 | 1,605,000 | −11% |
| 1989 | 1,805,900 | −0.7% |
| 1988 | 1,818,700 | −3.6% |
| 1987 | 1,886,200 | +7.1% |
| 1986 | 1,761,600 | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 1,677,100 | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 1,671,000 | +8.2% |
| 1983 | 1,544,600 | −1.2% |
| 1982 | 1,563,100 | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 1,550,800 | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 1,528,800 | −0.3% |
| 1979 | 1,533,953 | −3.0% |
| 1978 | 1,580,848 | +4.9% |
| 1977 | 1,506,747 | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 1,489,471 | −6.2% |
| 1975 | 1,588,177 | +20% |
| 1974 | 1,326,174 | −8.7% |
| 1973 | 1,452,825 | −2.3% |
| 1972 | 1,486,914 | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 1,484,901 | −0.8% |
| 1970 | 1,496,784 | −7.2% |
| 1969 | 1,612,442 | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 1,562,700 | −5.3% |
| 1967 | 1,650,700 | −6.2% |
| 1966 | 1,758,900 | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 1,720,600 | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 1,689,600 | −3.1% |
| 1963 | 1,743,000 | −1.0% |
| 1962 | 1,761,000 | −12% |
| 1961 | 1,997,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many bees are there in Germany?
Germany had 1.0 million bees in 2024, 1.00% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Germany rank in the world by number of bees?
Germany ranked 17th 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 Germany changed?
It rose by 37% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +15% for the world. The record was 2.0 million head in 1961.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 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.