Cattle in Brazil
Brazil had 238 million cattle in 2024, the largest total in the world (15.1% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 12%. The record was 239 million head in 2023.
- Animals, 2024
- 238 million head
- World rank
- 1 of 190
- 10-year change
- +12%
- Record
- 239 million head
- 2023
Cattle in Brazil, 1961–2024 (head)
Brazil compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 15.1%
- 14.8% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +12%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 238,180,757 | 15.1% |
| 2 | India | 194,753,479 | 12.3% |
| 3 | United States | 87,157,400 | 5.5% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Brazil is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 238,180,757 | −0.2% |
| 2023 | 238,620,910 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 234,851,536 | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 224,601,992 | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 217,836,282 | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 215,008,958 | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 213,809,445 | −0.6% |
| 2017 | 215,003,578 | −1.5% |
| 2016 | 218,190,768 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 215,220,508 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 212,366,132 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 211,764,292 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 211,279,082 | −0.7% |
| 2011 | 212,815,311 | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 209,541,109 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 205,307,954 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 202,306,731 | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 199,752,014 | −3.0% |
| 2006 | 205,886,244 | −0.6% |
| 2005 | 207,156,696 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 204,512,737 | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 195,551,576 | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 185,348,838 | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 176,388,726 | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 169,875,524 | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 164,621,038 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 163,154,357 | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 161,416,157 | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 158,288,540 | −1.8% |
| 1995 | 161,227,938 | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 158,243,229 | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 155,134,074 | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 154,229,303 | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 152,135,505 | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 147,102,320 | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 144,154,096 | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 139,599,104 | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 135,720,288 | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 132,221,568 | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 128,422,672 | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 127,655,008 | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 124,186,000 | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 123,488,000 | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 121,785,008 | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 118,971,424 | +9.0% |
| 1979 | 109,177,488 | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 106,942,560 | −0.3% |
| 1977 | 107,296,560 | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 101,674,000 | +9.9% |
| 1975 | 92,495,360 | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 90,437,008 | +5.8% |
| 1973 | 85,500,000 | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 83,000,000 | +5.6% |
| 1971 | 78,562,256 | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 75,446,704 | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 72,965,856 | +3.4% |
| 1968 | 70,566,608 | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 68,246,224 | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 66,002,144 | +3.4% |
| 1965 | 63,831,856 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 61,732,944 | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 59,703,040 | +3.4% |
| 1962 | 57,739,888 | +3.0% |
| 1961 | 56,041,312 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Brazil?
Brazil had 238 million cattle in 2024, 15.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Brazil rank in the world by number of cattle?
Brazil was the world’s largest herd in 2024, ahead of India.
How has the number of cattle in Brazil changed?
It rose by 12% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 239 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. 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.