FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Cattle in Ireland
Ireland had 6.3 million cattle in 2024, the 40th largest in the world (0.40% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.9%. The record was 7.4 million head in 2017.
- Animals, 2024
- 6.3 million head
- World rank
- 40 of 190
- 10-year change
- −8.9%
- Record
- 7.4 million head
- 2017
Cattle in Ireland, 1961–2024 (head)
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,308,300 | −3.3% |
| 2023 | 6,525,960 | −0.4% |
| 2022 | 6,551,830 | −1.5% |
| 2021 | 6,649,310 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 6,529,440 | −0.5% |
| 2019 | 6,559,650 | −0.5% |
| 2018 | 6,593,490 | −10% |
| 2017 | 7,363,498 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 7,221,200 | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 6,963,500 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 6,926,100 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 6,902,600 | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 6,754,100 | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 6,493,000 | −1.7% |
| 2010 | 6,606,600 | −4.1% |
| 2009 | 6,890,700 | −0.2% |
| 2008 | 6,902,100 | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 6,890,900 | −1.2% |
| 2006 | 6,977,800 | −0.2% |
| 2005 | 6,991,800 | −0.3% |
| 2004 | 7,015,600 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 6,999,500 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 6,992,200 | −0.8% |
| 2001 | 7,049,700 | +0.2% |
| 2000 | 7,037,400 | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 6,951,700 | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 6,881,600 | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 6,660,900 | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 6,450,600 | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 6,343,900 | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 6,263,900 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 6,236,400 | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 6,147,400 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 6,100,500 | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 5,969,100 | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 5,698,700 | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 5,632,700 | −0.7% |
| 1987 | 5,670,300 | −2.5% |
| 1986 | 5,813,000 | −0.8% |
| 1985 | 5,860,900 | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 5,830,500 | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 5,795,200 | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 5,763,200 | −1.1% |
| 1981 | 5,825,500 | −5.6% |
| 1980 | 6,170,900 | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 6,132,100 | −1.8% |
| 1978 | 6,245,500 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 6,210,000 | −0.1% |
| 1976 | 6,213,700 | −4.4% |
| 1975 | 6,499,600 | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 6,408,000 | +7.8% |
| 1973 | 5,945,700 | +7.8% |
| 1972 | 5,516,000 | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 5,405,000 | +3.4% |
| 1970 | 5,229,000 | +2.8% |
| 1969 | 5,086,300 | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 5,030,300 | −2.3% |
| 1967 | 5,149,900 | +4.1% |
| 1966 | 4,945,700 | +9.3% |
| 1965 | 4,524,200 | +3.6% |
| 1964 | 4,368,800 | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 4,300,600 | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 4,179,200 | −2.6% |
| 1961 | 4,291,200 | — |
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.