Cattle in Germany
Germany had 10.5 million cattle in 2024, the 33rd largest in the world (0.66% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 18%. The record was 21.5 million head in 1985.
- Animals, 2024
- 10.5 million head
- World rank
- 33 of 190
- 10-year change
- −18%
- Record
- 21.5 million head
- 1985
Cattle in Germany, 1961–2024 (head)
Germany compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.66%
- 0.89% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −18%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Canada | 10,985,000 | 0.70% |
| 32 | Myanmar | 10,800,000 | 0.68% |
| 33 | Germany | 10,461,290 | 0.66% |
| 34 | Burkina Faso | 10,280,515 | 0.65% |
| 35 | New Zealand | 9,516,288 | 0.60% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Germany is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,461,290 | −3.5% |
| 2023 | 10,836,200 | −1.5% |
| 2022 | 10,996,960 | −0.4% |
| 2021 | 11,039,660 | −2.3% |
| 2020 | 11,301,860 | −2.9% |
| 2019 | 11,639,530 | −2.6% |
| 2018 | 11,949,090 | −2.7% |
| 2017 | 12,281,195 | −1.5% |
| 2016 | 12,466,586 | −1.3% |
| 2015 | 12,635,456 | −0.8% |
| 2014 | 12,742,190 | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 12,587,020 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 12,477,389 | −0.7% |
| 2011 | 12,562,600 | −1.9% |
| 2010 | 12,809,492 | −1.0% |
| 2009 | 12,944,903 | −0.2% |
| 2008 | 12,969,674 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 12,686,644 | −0.5% |
| 2006 | 12,747,900 | −2.2% |
| 2005 | 13,034,500 | −1.2% |
| 2004 | 13,195,800 | −3.3% |
| 2003 | 13,643,703 | −4.1% |
| 2002 | 14,226,600 | −2.3% |
| 2001 | 14,567,737 | −0.6% |
| 2000 | 14,657,901 | −1.9% |
| 1999 | 14,942,024 | −1.9% |
| 1998 | 15,227,152 | −3.4% |
| 1997 | 15,759,573 | −0.8% |
| 1996 | 15,889,915 | −0.5% |
| 1995 | 15,962,237 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 15,896,620 | −1.9% |
| 1993 | 16,207,340 | −5.4% |
| 1992 | 17,133,800 | −12% |
| 1991 | 19,488,000 | −3.9% |
| 1990 | 20,287,824 | −0.4% |
| 1989 | 20,369,056 | −1.2% |
| 1988 | 20,607,440 | −2.4% |
| 1987 | 21,108,928 | −1.6% |
| 1986 | 21,453,088 | −0.4% |
| 1985 | 21,535,968 | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 21,319,520 | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 20,788,576 | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 20,741,296 | −0.2% |
| 1981 | 20,791,952 | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 20,645,840 | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 20,579,216 | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 20,312,288 | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 19,967,808 | −0.3% |
| 1976 | 20,024,928 | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 20,014,880 | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 19,845,504 | +3.0% |
| 1973 | 19,271,360 | +1.8% |
| 1972 | 18,930,864 | −1.5% |
| 1971 | 19,216,160 | −1.2% |
| 1970 | 19,457,408 | +1.5% |
| 1969 | 19,170,192 | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 18,999,696 | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 18,891,600 | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 18,442,496 | +4.0% |
| 1965 | 17,735,488 | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 17,627,696 | −1.3% |
| 1963 | 17,862,288 | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 17,824,288 | +1.6% |
| 1961 | 17,542,592 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Germany?
Germany had 10.5 million cattle in 2024, 0.66% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Germany rank in the world by number of cattle?
Germany ranked 33rd 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 Germany changed?
It fell by 18% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 21.5 million head in 1985.
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.