> Saudi Arabia had 2.4 million camels in 2024, the 5th largest in the world (5.49% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 416%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/camels/saudi-arabia/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Camels](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/)›Saudi ArabiaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# Camels in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia had 2.4 million camels in 2024, the 5th largest in the world (5.49% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 416%. This is the highest figure on record.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.

Animals, 20242.4 million head
World rank5 of 46
10-year change+416%
Record2.4 million head2024

## Camels in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2024 (head)

## Saudi Arabia compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total5.5%1.5% in 2014
10-year change+416%world +38%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 | [Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/sudan/) | 4,839,720 | 10.9% |
| 4 | [Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/kenya/) | 4,779,483 | 10.8% |
| 5 | **Saudi Arabia** | 2,436,191 | 5.5% |
| 6 | [Niger](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/niger/) | 1,957,356 | 4.4% |
| 7 | [Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/ethiopia/) | 1,656,499 | 3.7% |

[Full ranking of 46 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/)

### Map of camels numbers by country

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 2,436,191 | +10% |
| 2023 | 2,210,197 | +10% |
| 2022 | 2,000,242 | +44% |
| 2021 | 1,390,091 | −0.7% |
| 2020 | 1,400,000 | +184% |
| 2019 | 492,853 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 487,823 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 485,926 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 481,138 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 476,398 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 471,704 | +102% |
| 2013 | 233,085 | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 223,441 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 219,931 | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 213,321 | −7.2% |
| 2009 | 229,871 | −5.0% |
| 2008 | 241,893 | −13% |
| 2007 | 279,338 | −1.7% |
| 2006 | 284,133 | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 272,700 | −3.9% |
| 2004 | 283,911 | +12% |
| 2003 | 254,557 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 252,663 | −1.0% |
| 2001 | 255,296 | −1.6% |
| 2000 | 259,483 | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 255,475 | −30% |
| 1998 | 365,241 | −14% |
| 1997 | 426,015 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 423,504 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 421,700 | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 415,468 | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 412,629 | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 409,788 | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 405,261 | −0.2% |
| 1990 | 405,916 | −0.0% |
| 1989 | 406,073 | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 390,250 | −1.6% |
| 1987 | 396,626 | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 376,741 | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 372,126 | −4.9% |
| 1984 | 391,247 | +6.5% |
| 1983 | 367,411 | +18% |
| 1982 | 311,068 | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 290,000 | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 279,000 | −1.1% |
| 1979 | 282,000 | +17% |
| 1978 | 241,000 | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 240,000 | −4.8% |
| 1976 | 252,000 | −3.1% |
| 1975 | 260,000 | −3.7% |
| 1974 | 270,000 | +29% |
| 1973 | 210,000 | +24% |
| 1972 | 170,000 | +13% |
| 1971 | 150,000 | +25% |
| 1970 | 120,000 | +9.1% |
| 1969 | 110,000 | −2.0% |
| 1968 | 112,189 | +23% |
| 1967 | 91,500 | +2.8% |
| 1966 | 89,000 | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 87,500 | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 85,700 | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 84,000 | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 82,000 | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 80,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many camels are there in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia had 2.4 million camels in 2024, 5.5% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does Saudi Arabia rank in the world by number of camels?

Saudi Arabia ranked 5th of 46 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in Chad with 25.7% of the world total.

### How has the number of camels in Saudi Arabia changed?

It rose by 416% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +38% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.

### 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 Saudi Arabia is imputed by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/chad/)[Somalia](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/somalia/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/sudan/)[Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/kenya/)[Niger](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/niger/)[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/ethiopia/)[Mauritania](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/mauritania/)[Mali](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/mali/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/pakistan/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/china/)[United Arab Emirates](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/united-arab-emirates/)[Mongolia](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/mongolia/)
[All countries producing camels](https://husfarm.com/production/camels/)

## Other products of Saudi Arabia

[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/saudi-arabia/)[Dates](https://husfarm.com/production/dates/saudi-arabia/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/saudi-arabia/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/saudi-arabia/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/saudi-arabia/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/saudi-arabia/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/saudi-arabia/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/saudi-arabia/)[Hen eggs](https://husfarm.com/production/hen-eggs/saudi-arabia/)[Olives](https://husfarm.com/production/olives/saudi-arabia/)[Onions, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/onions/saudi-arabia/)[Other fruits, n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-fruits/saudi-arabia/)
[Agricultural production in Saudi Arabia](https://husfarm.com/production/country/saudi-arabia/)

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.

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