Cattle in Iraq
Iraq had 2.1 million cattle in 2024, the 84th largest in the world (0.13% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 27%. The record was 2.9 million head in 2014.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 2.1 million head
- World rank
- 84 of 190
- 10-year change
- −27%
- Record
- 2.9 million head
- 2014
Cattle in Iraq, 1961–2024 (head)
Iraq compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.13%
- 0.20% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −27%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Ukraine | 2,156,200 | 0.14% |
| 83 | Belgium | 2,153,430 | 0.14% |
| 84 | Iraq | 2,104,351 | 0.13% |
| 85 | DR Congo | 2,032,019 | 0.13% |
| 86 | Mauritania | 1,992,320 | 0.13% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Iraq is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,104,351 | −2.0% |
| 2023 | 2,147,569 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 2,104,057 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 2,061,427 | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 2,019,660 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 1,978,740 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 1,938,649 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 1,899,370 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 1,860,887 | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 1,823,184 | −37% |
| 2014 | 2,900,000 | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 2,780,000 | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 2,720,000 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 2,707,000 | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 2,629,000 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 2,552,000 | +62% |
| 2008 | 1,580,000 | +38% |
| 2007 | 1,145,000 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 1,130,000 | −31% |
| 2005 | 1,648,000 | +8.7% |
| 2004 | 1,516,000 | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 1,425,000 | −5.0% |
| 2002 | 1,500,000 | +2.9% |
| 2001 | 1,458,000 | +8.0% |
| 2000 | 1,350,000 | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 1,325,000 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 1,320,000 | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 1,300,375 | +24% |
| 1996 | 1,050,000 | −12% |
| 1995 | 1,190,000 | −12% |
| 1994 | 1,354,380 | −8.5% |
| 1993 | 1,480,000 | +17% |
| 1992 | 1,260,000 | +26% |
| 1991 | 1,000,000 | −34% |
| 1990 | 1,520,000 | −3.7% |
| 1989 | 1,578,000 | −1.4% |
| 1988 | 1,600,000 | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 1,580,000 | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 1,578,418 | −3.5% |
| 1985 | 1,635,000 | −3.7% |
| 1984 | 1,698,000 | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 1,685,000 | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 1,675,000 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 1,670,000 | −1.9% |
| 1980 | 1,702,000 | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 1,697,665 | −0.0% |
| 1978 | 1,698,000 | −5.9% |
| 1977 | 1,804,235 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1,804,000 | −2.5% |
| 1975 | 1,850,000 | −9.7% |
| 1974 | 2,048,000 | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 1,900,000 | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 1,880,000 | +1.1% |
| 1971 | 1,860,000 | +1.6% |
| 1970 | 1,830,000 | +5.8% |
| 1969 | 1,730,000 | +4.8% |
| 1968 | 1,650,000 | +3.1% |
| 1967 | 1,600,000 | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 1,520,000 | +4.5% |
| 1965 | 1,454,923 | −3.0% |
| 1964 | 1,500,000 | −3.2% |
| 1963 | 1,550,000 | 0.0% |
| 1962 | 1,550,000 | 0.0% |
| 1961 | 1,550,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Iraq?
Iraq had 2.1 million cattle in 2024, 0.13% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Iraq rank in the world by number of cattle?
Iraq ranked 84th 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 Iraq changed?
It fell by 27% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 2.9 million head in 2014.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for Iraq is estimated by FAO. 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.