Cattle in Australia
Australia had 30.4 million cattle in 2024, the 12th largest in the world (1.92% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 4.4%. The record was 33.4 million head in 1976.
- Animals, 2024
- 30.4 million head
- World rank
- 12 of 190
- 10-year change
- +4.4%
- Record
- 33.4 million head
- 1976
Cattle in Australia, 1961–2024 (head)
Australia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.9%
- 2.0% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +4.4%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Mexico | 36,933,201 | 2.3% |
| 11 | Sudan | 31,256,148 | 2.0% |
| 12 | Australia | 30,372,537 | 1.9% |
| 13 | Colombia | 30,344,182 | 1.9% |
| 14 | Bangladesh | 25,013,000 | 1.6% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Australia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30,372,537 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 29,878,186 | +22% |
| 2022 | 24,398,826 | −0.1% |
| 2021 | 24,431,174 | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 23,503,238 | −4.9% |
| 2019 | 24,723,458 | −6.3% |
| 2018 | 26,395,734 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 26,175,521 | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 24,971,349 | −8.9% |
| 2015 | 27,412,872 | −5.8% |
| 2014 | 29,103,000 | −0.6% |
| 2013 | 29,290,768 | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 28,418,422 | −0.3% |
| 2011 | 28,506,168 | +6.6% |
| 2010 | 26,733,000 | −4.2% |
| 2009 | 27,906,764 | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 27,320,978 | −2.6% |
| 2007 | 28,036,600 | −1.3% |
| 2006 | 28,393,400 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 27,782,000 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 27,465,000 | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 26,664,000 | −4.3% |
| 2002 | 27,870,000 | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 27,721,000 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 27,588,000 | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 26,578,000 | −1.0% |
| 1998 | 26,852,000 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 26,780,000 | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 26,377,400 | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 25,731,220 | −0.1% |
| 1994 | 25,757,600 | +7.0% |
| 1993 | 24,061,808 | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 23,879,984 | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 23,662,256 | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 23,162,208 | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 22,434,288 | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 21,850,816 | −0.3% |
| 1987 | 21,914,672 | −6.5% |
| 1986 | 23,436,080 | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 22,737,760 | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 22,161,312 | −1.4% |
| 1983 | 22,478,336 | −8.4% |
| 1982 | 24,552,800 | −2.4% |
| 1981 | 25,167,984 | −3.9% |
| 1980 | 26,202,704 | −3.4% |
| 1979 | 27,111,664 | −7.6% |
| 1978 | 29,329,872 | −7.0% |
| 1977 | 31,533,376 | −5.7% |
| 1976 | 33,434,192 | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 32,792,704 | +6.3% |
| 1974 | 30,838,784 | +6.0% |
| 1973 | 29,100,688 | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 27,373,312 | +12% |
| 1971 | 24,373,136 | +10.0% |
| 1970 | 22,162,464 | +7.5% |
| 1969 | 20,611,008 | +7.2% |
| 1968 | 19,218,000 | +5.2% |
| 1967 | 18,269,744 | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 17,935,984 | −4.7% |
| 1965 | 18,815,792 | −1.3% |
| 1964 | 19,054,704 | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 18,548,832 | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 18,033,168 | +4.0% |
| 1961 | 17,332,256 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Australia?
Australia had 30.4 million cattle in 2024, 1.9% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Australia rank in the world by number of cattle?
Australia ranked 12th of 190 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in Brazil with 15.1% of the world total.
How has the number of cattle in Australia changed?
It rose by 4.4% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 33.4 million head in 1976.
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.