Cattle in Denmark
Denmark had 1.4 million cattle in 2024, the 98th largest in the world (0.09% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 9.6%. The record was 3.6 million head in 1961.
- Animals, 2024
- 1.4 million head
- World rank
- 98 of 190
- 10-year change
- −9.6%
- Record
- 3.6 million head
- 1961
Cattle in Denmark, 1961–2024 (head)
Denmark compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.09%
- 0.11% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −9.6%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | Haiti | 1,524,965 | 0.10% |
| 97 | Portugal | 1,486,910 | 0.09% |
| 98 | Denmark | 1,413,860 | 0.09% |
| 99 | Panama | 1,401,169 | 0.09% |
| 100 | Czechia | 1,397,410 | 0.09% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Denmark is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,413,860 | −1.5% |
| 2023 | 1,434,870 | −2.1% |
| 2022 | 1,466,000 | −0.9% |
| 2021 | 1,480,000 | −1.3% |
| 2020 | 1,500,000 | 0.0% |
| 2019 | 1,500,000 | −2.0% |
| 2018 | 1,530,000 | −1.0% |
| 2017 | 1,545,417 | −1.5% |
| 2016 | 1,568,288 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 1,551,948 | −0.7% |
| 2014 | 1,563,535 | −3.2% |
| 2013 | 1,614,644 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 1,606,826 | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 1,567,971 | −0.2% |
| 2010 | 1,571,050 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1,540,340 | −1.5% |
| 2008 | 1,564,393 | −0.1% |
| 2007 | 1,566,218 | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 1,534,763 | −2.2% |
| 2005 | 1,570,085 | −4.6% |
| 2004 | 1,645,764 | −4.6% |
| 2003 | 1,724,409 | −4.0% |
| 2002 | 1,796,118 | −5.8% |
| 2001 | 1,906,911 | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 1,867,937 | −1.0% |
| 1999 | 1,887,057 | −4.6% |
| 1998 | 1,977,367 | −1.3% |
| 1997 | 2,004,212 | −4.3% |
| 1996 | 2,093,256 | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 2,090,733 | −0.7% |
| 1994 | 2,104,904 | −4.1% |
| 1993 | 2,195,000 | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 2,190,000 | −1.4% |
| 1991 | 2,222,000 | −0.8% |
| 1990 | 2,239,000 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 2,221,000 | −1.8% |
| 1988 | 2,262,000 | −3.8% |
| 1987 | 2,351,000 | −5.8% |
| 1986 | 2,495,000 | −4.7% |
| 1985 | 2,618,000 | −4.8% |
| 1984 | 2,750,000 | −3.6% |
| 1983 | 2,852,000 | −0.3% |
| 1982 | 2,862,000 | −1.8% |
| 1981 | 2,914,000 | −1.6% |
| 1980 | 2,961,000 | −2.5% |
| 1979 | 3,035,396 | −1.5% |
| 1978 | 3,081,306 | −0.6% |
| 1977 | 3,098,735 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 3,095,404 | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 3,060,152 | −1.3% |
| 1974 | 3,099,779 | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 2,956,546 | +6.4% |
| 1972 | 2,778,855 | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 2,722,871 | −4.2% |
| 1970 | 2,842,271 | −5.2% |
| 1969 | 2,999,694 | −4.5% |
| 1968 | 3,140,861 | −4.3% |
| 1967 | 3,281,665 | −2.7% |
| 1966 | 3,373,631 | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 3,345,396 | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 3,276,525 | −2.0% |
| 1963 | 3,343,430 | −4.6% |
| 1962 | 3,504,207 | −2.5% |
| 1961 | 3,593,095 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Denmark?
Denmark had 1.4 million cattle in 2024, 0.09% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Denmark rank in the world by number of cattle?
Denmark ranked 98th 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 Denmark changed?
It fell by 9.6% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 3.6 million head in 1961.
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.