Cattle in Eswatini
Eswatini had 652,513 cattle in 2024, the 115th largest in the world (0.04% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 5.2%. The record was 752,775 head in 1992.
- Animals, 2024
- 652,513 head
- World rank
- 115 of 190
- 10-year change
- +5.2%
- Record
- 752,775 head
- 1992
Cattle in Eswatini, 1961–2024 (head)
Eswatini compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.04%
- 0.04% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +5.2%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 113 | Serbia | 698,605 | 0.04% |
| 114 | Sierra Leone | 682,125 | 0.04% |
| 115 | Eswatini | 652,513 | 0.04% |
| 116 | Lithuania | 599,770 | 0.04% |
| 117 | Greece | 595,200 | 0.04% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Eswatini is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 652,513 | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 613,475 | +9.5% |
| 2022 | 560,036 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 554,400 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 548,964 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 527,153 | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 501,643 | −1.9% |
| 2017 | 511,174 | −3.8% |
| 2016 | 531,450 | −10% |
| 2015 | 591,454 | −4.6% |
| 2014 | 620,032 | −1.2% |
| 2013 | 627,486 | −1.0% |
| 2012 | 633,954 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 625,000 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 620,000 | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 585,000 | 0.0% |
| 2008 | 585,000 | 0.0% |
| 2007 | 585,000 | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 580,000 | −5.7% |
| 2005 | 615,000 | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 610,000 | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 600,252 | +15% |
| 2002 | 522,260 | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 505,966 | −14% |
| 2000 | 588,288 | −4.2% |
| 1999 | 613,932 | −1.5% |
| 1998 | 623,446 | −5.3% |
| 1997 | 658,453 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 656,484 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 641,979 | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 626,356 | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 607,513 | −19% |
| 1992 | 752,775 | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 740,170 | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 715,941 | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 679,188 | +6.1% |
| 1988 | 639,943 | −0.1% |
| 1987 | 640,901 | −1.9% |
| 1986 | 653,222 | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 648,332 | +5.7% |
| 1984 | 613,529 | −4.5% |
| 1983 | 642,447 | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 636,036 | −3.0% |
| 1981 | 655,692 | −0.3% |
| 1980 | 657,608 | −0.4% |
| 1979 | 660,505 | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 644,156 | +1.6% |
| 1977 | 634,090 | −0.0% |
| 1976 | 634,241 | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 621,721 | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 607,366 | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 602,414 | +2.2% |
| 1972 | 589,220 | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 571,785 | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 568,369 | +5.6% |
| 1969 | 538,230 | +4.5% |
| 1968 | 514,964 | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 504,423 | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 491,028 | −3.7% |
| 1965 | 510,085 | −6.4% |
| 1964 | 544,883 | +2.5% |
| 1963 | 531,540 | −2.2% |
| 1962 | 543,393 | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 535,376 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Eswatini?
Eswatini had 652,513 cattle in 2024, 0.04% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Eswatini rank in the world by number of cattle?
Eswatini ranked 115th 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 Eswatini changed?
It rose by 5.2% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 752,775 head in 1992.
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.