Buffalo in Nepal
Nepal had 3.3 million buffalo in 2024, the 4th largest in the world (1.56% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 36%. The record was 5.3 million head in 2019.
- Animals, 2024
- 3.3 million head
- World rank
- 4 of 47
- 10-year change
- −36%
- Record
- 5.3 million head
- 2019
Buffalo in Nepal, 1961–2024 (head)
Nepal compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.6%
- 2.6% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −36%
- world +6.9%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pakistan | 46,310,000 | 21.8% |
| 3 | China | 30,139,500 | 14.2% |
| 4 | Nepal | 3,307,031 | 1.6% |
| 5 | Philippines | 2,705,548 | 1.3% |
| 6 | Myanmar | 2,075,000 | 0.98% |
Map of buffalo numbers by country
Share of the world total; Nepal is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,307,031 | +7.3% |
| 2023 | 3,081,062 | −40% |
| 2022 | 5,132,931 | −0.5% |
| 2021 | 5,159,931 | −1.9% |
| 2020 | 5,257,591 | −1.0% |
| 2019 | 5,308,664 | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 5,277,819 | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 5,177,998 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 5,168,809 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 5,167,737 | −0.2% |
| 2014 | 5,178,612 | −1.2% |
| 2013 | 5,241,873 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 5,133,139 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 4,993,650 | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 4,836,984 | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 4,680,486 | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 4,496,507 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 4,366,813 | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 4,202,886 | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 4,081,463 | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 3,952,654 | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 3,840,013 | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 3,700,864 | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 3,624,027 | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 3,525,952 | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 3,470,600 | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 3,419,150 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 3,362,440 | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 3,302,200 | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 3,278,255 | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 3,175,553 | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 3,072,682 | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 3,058,341 | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 3,043,920 | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 3,012,565 | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 3,002,803 | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 2,951,640 | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 2,917,579 | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 2,891,440 | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 2,839,369 | +3.5% |
| 1984 | 2,743,000 | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 2,608,000 | +9.6% |
| 1982 | 2,379,723 | −4.8% |
| 1981 | 2,500,000 | 0.0% |
| 1980 | 2,500,000 | +14% |
| 1979 | 2,200,000 | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 2,135,000 | +6.7% |
| 1977 | 2,000,000 | +11% |
| 1976 | 1,800,000 | +7.8% |
| 1975 | 1,670,000 | +14% |
| 1974 | 1,465,000 | +10% |
| 1973 | 1,330,000 | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 1,270,000 | +13% |
| 1971 | 1,127,000 | +10% |
| 1970 | 1,020,000 | +4.7% |
| 1969 | 974,000 | +1.5% |
| 1968 | 960,000 | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 940,000 | +4.4% |
| 1966 | 900,000 | −4.3% |
| 1965 | 940,000 | +3.0% |
| 1964 | 913,000 | 0.0% |
| 1963 | 913,000 | +14% |
| 1962 | 800,000 | +0.6% |
| 1961 | 795,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many buffalo are there in Nepal?
Nepal had 3.3 million buffalo in 2024, 1.6% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Nepal rank in the world by number of buffalo?
Nepal ranked 4th 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 Nepal changed?
It fell by 36% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +6.9% for the world. The record was 5.3 million head in 2019.
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.