> 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%.

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

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# 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.

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

Animals, 202410.5 million head
World rank33 of 190
10-year change−18%
Record21.5 million head1985

## Cattle in Germany, 1961–2024 (head)

## Germany compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.66%0.89% in 2014
10-year change−18%world +9.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31 | [Canada](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/canada/) | 10,985,000 | 0.70% |
| 32 | [Myanmar](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/myanmar/) | 10,800,000 | 0.68% |
| 33 | **Germany** | 10,461,290 | 0.66% |
| 34 | [Burkina Faso](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/burkina-faso/) | 10,280,515 | 0.65% |
| 35 | [New Zealand](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/new-zealand/) | 9,516,288 | 0.60% |

[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; 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

[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 Germany

[Sugar beet](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-beet/germany/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/germany/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/germany/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/germany/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/germany/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/germany/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/germany/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/germany/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/germany/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/germany/)[Rapeseed or canola oil, crude](https://husfarm.com/production/rapeseed-or-canola-oil/germany/)[Rapeseed](https://husfarm.com/production/rapeseed/germany/)
[Agricultural production in Germany](https://husfarm.com/production/country/germany/)

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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