> France had 16.5 million cattle in 2024, the 21st largest in the world (1.04% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 14%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/france/

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# Cattle in France

France had 16.5 million cattle in 2024, the 21st largest in the world (1.04% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 14%. The record was 24.1 million head in 1976.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/beef/)[Market prices in France](https://husfarm.com/country/france/)

Animals, 202416.5 million head
World rank21 of 190
10-year change−14%
Record24.1 million head1976

## Cattle in France, 1961–2024 (head)

## France compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total1.0%1.3% in 2014
10-year change−14%world +9.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 19 | [Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/russia/) | 17,373,368 | 1.1% |
| 20 | [Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/turkey/) | 16,824,208 | 1.1% |
| 21 | **France** | 16,478,260 | 1.0% |
| 22 | [Venezuela](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/venezuela/) | 15,749,209 | 1.00% |
| 23 | [Uganda](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/uganda/) | 14,723,179 | 0.93% |

[Full ranking of 190 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/)

### Map of cattle numbers by country

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 16,478,260 | −2.0% |
| 2023 | 16,806,900 | −1.1% |
| 2022 | 16,986,190 | −2.0% |
| 2021 | 17,330,080 | −2.7% |
| 2020 | 17,815,670 | −2.0% |
| 2019 | 18,172,970 | −2.4% |
| 2018 | 18,613,040 | −1.8% |
| 2017 | 18,953,568 | −2.2% |
| 2016 | 19,373,382 | −0.1% |
| 2015 | 19,386,522 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 19,248,627 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 19,095,797 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 19,005,649 | −0.4% |
| 2011 | 19,085,561 | −2.4% |
| 2010 | 19,555,173 | −1.3% |
| 2009 | 19,805,378 | −1.2% |
| 2008 | 20,046,940 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 19,885,156 | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 19,534,688 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 19,421,068 | −0.5% |
| 2004 | 19,516,224 | −1.3% |
| 2003 | 19,772,441 | −3.4% |
| 2002 | 20,461,291 | −3.2% |
| 2001 | 21,137,970 | −0.6% |
| 2000 | 21,256,247 | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 20,066,844 | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 20,051,494 | −0.8% |
| 1997 | 20,205,040 | −1.5% |
| 1996 | 20,507,820 | −0.2% |
| 1995 | 20,540,297 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 20,450,490 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 20,446,184 | −1.0% |
| 1992 | 20,654,916 | −2.1% |
| 1991 | 21,097,138 | −1.4% |
| 1990 | 21,394,000 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 21,377,008 | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 21,340,000 | −2.9% |
| 1987 | 21,967,008 | −5.7% |
| 1986 | 23,289,888 | −0.8% |
| 1985 | 23,480,976 | −1.7% |
| 1984 | 23,893,008 | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 23,656,000 | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 23,493,008 | −0.7% |
| 1981 | 23,650,000 | −1.1% |
| 1980 | 23,919,088 | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 23,906,000 | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 23,761,904 | −0.3% |
| 1977 | 23,840,000 | −1.0% |
| 1976 | 24,077,008 | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 24,040,000 | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 23,701,008 | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 22,508,608 | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 21,764,096 | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 21,723,008 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 21,719,296 | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 21,565,504 | −0.5% |
| 1968 | 21,679,008 | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 21,183,904 | +2.6% |
| 1966 | 20,640,304 | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 20,243,904 | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 20,040,608 | −1.2% |
| 1963 | 20,286,000 | −1.4% |
| 1962 | 20,583,008 | +5.5% |
| 1961 | 19,501,008 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many cattle are there in France?

France had 16.5 million cattle in 2024, 1.0% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does France rank in the world by number of cattle?

France ranked 21st 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 France changed?

It fell by 14% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 24.1 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

[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/brazil/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/india/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/united-states/)[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/ethiopia/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/china/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/pakistan/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/argentina/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/chad/)[Tanzania](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/tanzania/)[Mexico](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/mexico/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/sudan/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/australia/)
[All countries producing cattle](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/)

## Other products of France

[Sugar beet](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-beet/france/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/france/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/france/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/france/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/france/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/france/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/france/)[Wine](https://husfarm.com/production/wine/france/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/france/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/france/)[Rapeseed](https://husfarm.com/production/rapeseed/france/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/france/)
[Agricultural production in France](https://husfarm.com/production/country/france/)

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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