Buffalo in Thailand
Thailand had 872,691 buffalo in 2024, the 14th largest in the world (0.41% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 14%. The record was 6.4 million head in 1982.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 872,691 head
- World rank
- 14 of 47
- 10-year change
- −14%
- Record
- 6.4 million head
- 1982
Buffalo in Thailand, 1961–2024 (head)
Thailand compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.41%
- 0.51% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −14%
- world +6.9%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Laos | 1,263,000 | 0.60% |
| 13 | Indonesia | 1,100,000 | 0.52% |
| 14 | Thailand | 872,691 | 0.41% |
| 15 | Cambodia | 673,380 | 0.32% |
| 16 | Colombia | 538,574 | 0.25% |
Map of buffalo numbers by country
Share of the world total; Thailand is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 872,691 | −9.1% |
| 2023 | 959,891 | −7.3% |
| 2022 | 1,035,846 | −6.0% |
| 2021 | 1,102,365 | −4.8% |
| 2020 | 1,157,975 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 1,157,173 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 1,153,970 | −0.5% |
| 2017 | 1,160,163 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1,160,124 | +17% |
| 2015 | 990,000 | −2.9% |
| 2014 | 1,020,088 | −21% |
| 2013 | 1,288,812 | −16% |
| 2012 | 1,542,167 | −2.9% |
| 2011 | 1,587,731 | −2.2% |
| 2010 | 1,622,646 | −2.9% |
| 2009 | 1,670,511 | −1.7% |
| 2008 | 1,699,469 | −2.5% |
| 2007 | 1,743,546 | −1.1% |
| 2006 | 1,763,444 | −0.4% |
| 2005 | 1,770,625 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 1,737,698 | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 1,689,762 | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 1,612,534 | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 1,523,627 | −11% |
| 2000 | 1,711,573 | −10% |
| 1999 | 1,911,518 | −16% |
| 1998 | 2,286,417 | −20% |
| 1997 | 2,864,715 | −13% |
| 1996 | 3,303,589 | −21% |
| 1995 | 4,181,612 | −10% |
| 1994 | 4,659,580 | −2.0% |
| 1993 | 4,753,697 | −1.1% |
| 1992 | 4,804,171 | −2.3% |
| 1991 | 4,918,907 | −3.4% |
| 1990 | 5,094,270 | −6.4% |
| 1989 | 5,442,614 | −4.7% |
| 1988 | 5,708,270 | −4.8% |
| 1987 | 5,998,423 | −4.1% |
| 1986 | 6,256,854 | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 6,249,926 | −0.8% |
| 1984 | 6,300,896 | −0.8% |
| 1983 | 6,354,349 | −1.0% |
| 1982 | 6,417,433 | +4.8% |
| 1981 | 6,124,019 | +8.4% |
| 1980 | 5,650,794 | −6.3% |
| 1979 | 6,027,895 | +1.2% |
| 1978 | 5,958,734 | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 5,827,462 | −1.2% |
| 1976 | 5,895,418 | +5.3% |
| 1975 | 5,596,876 | −0.8% |
| 1974 | 5,641,834 | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 5,545,549 | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 5,361,338 | −3.8% |
| 1971 | 5,574,176 | −2.8% |
| 1970 | 5,734,500 | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 5,642,057 | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 5,549,933 | +1.6% |
| 1967 | 5,461,794 | +1.6% |
| 1966 | 5,377,530 | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 5,297,050 | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 5,220,250 | +1.4% |
| 1963 | 5,147,030 | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 5,101,060 | +2.8% |
| 1961 | 4,963,580 | — |
Questions and answers
How many buffalo are there in Thailand?
Thailand had 872,691 buffalo in 2024, 0.41% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Thailand rank in the world by number of buffalo?
Thailand ranked 14th 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 Thailand changed?
It fell by 14% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +6.9% for the world. The record was 6.4 million head in 1982.
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 Thailand 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.