> 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%.

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

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Cattle](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/)›IrelandFAOSTAT · 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.

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

Animals, 20246.3 million head
World rank40 of 190
10-year change−8.9%
Record7.4 million head2017

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

## Ireland compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.40%0.48% in 2014
10-year change−8.9%world +9.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 38 | [Kazakhstan](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/kazakhstan/) | 7,976,665 | 0.51% |
| 39 | [Madagascar](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/madagascar/) | 6,957,211 | 0.44% |
| 40 | **Ireland** | 6,308,300 | 0.40% |
| 41 | [Vietnam](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/vietnam/) | 6,212,203 | 0.39% |
| 42 | [Poland](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/poland/) | 6,190,930 | 0.39% |

[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; Ireland is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## 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 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many cattle are there in Ireland?

Ireland had 6.3 million cattle in 2024, 0.40% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does Ireland rank in the world by number of cattle?

Ireland ranked 40th 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 Ireland changed?

It fell by 8.9% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 7.4 million head in 2017.

### 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 Ireland

[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/ireland/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/ireland/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/ireland/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/ireland/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/ireland/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/ireland/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/ireland/)[Butter of cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/ireland/)[Cheese from whole cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/ireland/)[Whey, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/whey-dry/ireland/)[Oats](https://husfarm.com/production/oats/ireland/)[Skim milk and whey powder](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-and-whey-powder/ireland/)
[Agricultural production in Ireland](https://husfarm.com/production/country/ireland/)

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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