> 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%.

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

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# 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.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/beef/)

Animals, 20242.1 million head
World rank84 of 190
10-year change−27%
Record2.9 million head2014

## Cattle in Iraq, 1961–2024 (head)

## Iraq compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.13%0.20% in 2014
10-year change−27%world +9.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 82 | [Ukraine](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/ukraine/) | 2,156,200 | 0.14% |
| 83 | [Belgium](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/belgium/) | 2,153,430 | 0.14% |
| 84 | **Iraq** | 2,104,351 | 0.13% |
| 85 | [DR Congo](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/dr-congo/) | 2,032,019 | 0.13% |
| 86 | [Mauritania](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/mauritania/) | 1,992,320 | 0.13% |

[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; 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

[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 Iraq

[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/iraq/)[Dates](https://husfarm.com/production/dates/iraq/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/iraq/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/iraq/)[Rye](https://husfarm.com/production/rye/iraq/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/iraq/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/iraq/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/iraq/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/iraq/)[Other fruits, n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-fruits/iraq/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/iraq/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/iraq/)
[Agricultural production in Iraq](https://husfarm.com/production/country/iraq/)

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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