> China had 30.1 million buffalo in 2024, the 3rd largest in the world (14.2% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 12%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/china/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Buffalo](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/)›ChinaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# Buffalo in China

China had 30.1 million buffalo in 2024, the 3rd largest in the world (14.2% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 12%. The record was 31.5 million head in 2023.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.

[Market prices in China](https://husfarm.com/country/china/)

Animals, 202430.1 million head
World rank3 of 47
10-year change+12%
Record31.5 million head2023

## Buffalo in China, 1961–2024 (head)

## China compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total14.2%13.6% in 2014
10-year change+12%world +6.9%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [India](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/india/) | 112,377,516 | 53.0% |
| 2 | [Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/pakistan/) | 46,310,000 | 21.8% |
| 3 | **China** | 30,139,500 | 14.2% |
| 4 | [Nepal](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/nepal/) | 3,307,031 | 1.6% |
| 5 | [Philippines](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/philippines/) | 2,705,548 | 1.3% |

[Full ranking of 47 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/)

### Map of buffalo numbers by country

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 30,139,500 | −4.4% |
| 2023 | 31,525,530 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 30,647,550 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 29,451,750 | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 28,686,180 | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 27,414,810 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 27,116,250 | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 26,503,470 | −2.4% |
| 2016 | 27,167,370 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 27,021,840 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 26,957,280 | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 26,957,280 | −1.7% |
| 2012 | 27,411,750 | −2.6% |
| 2011 | 28,152,000 | −4.4% |
| 2010 | 29,459,910 | −2.2% |
| 2009 | 30,107,580 | +29% |
| 2008 | 23,268,000 | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 22,717,000 | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 22,495,000 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 22,361,000 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 22,282,000 | −1.9% |
| 2003 | 22,724,000 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 22,684,000 | −0.3% |
| 2001 | 22,758,000 | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 22,587,000 | −0.3% |
| 1999 | 22,665,000 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 22,545,000 | +15% |
| 1997 | 19,636,000 | −16% |
| 1996 | 23,300,100 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 22,913,100 | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 22,400,000 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 22,200,000 | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 22,005,000 | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 21,690,000 | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 21,395,008 | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 21,067,008 | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 20,823,008 | 0.0% |
| 1987 | 20,823,008 | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 19,934,000 | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 19,506,000 | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 19,149,008 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 19,144,000 | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 18,770,000 | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 18,520,000 | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 18,377,008 | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 17,723,008 | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 17,229,008 | −1.2% |
| 1977 | 17,444,000 | −3.1% |
| 1976 | 18,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1975 | 18,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1974 | 18,000,000 | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 16,866,000 | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 16,500,000 | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 16,083,000 | +3.8% |
| 1970 | 15,500,000 | 0.0% |
| 1969 | 15,500,000 | +3.3% |
| 1968 | 15,000,000 | +7.1% |
| 1967 | 14,000,000 | +4.6% |
| 1966 | 13,378,000 | +25% |
| 1965 | 10,738,000 | −0.0% |
| 1964 | 10,740,000 | +29% |
| 1963 | 8,357,000 | +1.4% |
| 1962 | 8,245,000 | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 8,043,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many buffalo are there in China?

China had 30.1 million buffalo in 2024, 14.2% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does China rank in the world by number of buffalo?

China ranked 3rd of 47 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in India with 53.0% of the world total.

### How has the number of buffalo in China changed?

It rose by 12% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +6.9% for the world. The record was 31.5 million head in 2023.

### 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 China is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[India](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/india/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/pakistan/)[Nepal](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/nepal/)[Philippines](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/philippines/)[Myanmar](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/myanmar/)[Vietnam](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/vietnam/)[Venezuela](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/venezuela/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/brazil/)[Bangladesh](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/bangladesh/)[Egypt](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/egypt/)[Laos](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/laos/)[Indonesia](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/indonesia/)
[All countries producing buffalo](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo/)

## Other products of China

[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/china/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/china/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/china/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/china/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/china/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/china/)[Cucumbers](https://husfarm.com/production/cucumbers/china/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/china/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/china/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/china/)[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/china/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/china/)
[Agricultural production in China](https://husfarm.com/production/country/china/)

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.

---
Husfarm: https://husfarm.com/ · Site guide for agents: https://husfarm.com/llms.txt