> Japan had 4.0 million cattle in 2024, the 59th largest in the world (0.25% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 0.6%.

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

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# Cattle in Japan

Japan had 4.0 million cattle in 2024, the 59th largest in the world (0.25% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 0.6%. The record was 5.0 million head in 1993.

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

Animals, 20244.0 million head
World rank59 of 190
10-year change+0.6%
Record5.0 million head1993

## Cattle in Japan, 1961–2024 (head)

## Japan compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.25%0.28% in 2014
10-year change+0.6%world +9.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 57 | [Thailand](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/thailand/) | 4,293,189 | 0.27% |
| 58 | [Belarus](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/belarus/) | 4,097,900 | 0.26% |
| 59 | **Japan** | 3,985,000 | 0.25% |
| 60 | [South Korea](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/south-korea/) | 3,889,278 | 0.25% |
| 61 | [Senegal](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/senegal/) | 3,714,834 | 0.24% |

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 3,985,000 | −1.4% |
| 2023 | 4,043,000 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 3,985,000 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 3,961,000 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 3,907,000 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 3,835,000 | −0.2% |
| 2018 | 3,842,000 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 3,822,000 | −0.1% |
| 2016 | 3,824,000 | −0.9% |
| 2015 | 3,860,000 | −2.6% |
| 2014 | 3,962,000 | −2.5% |
| 2013 | 4,065,000 | −2.6% |
| 2012 | 4,172,000 | −1.4% |
| 2011 | 4,230,000 | −3.3% |
| 2010 | 4,376,000 | −1.1% |
| 2009 | 4,423,000 | 0.0% |
| 2008 | 4,423,000 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 4,398,000 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 4,391,000 | −0.2% |
| 2005 | 4,402,000 | −1.7% |
| 2004 | 4,478,000 | −1.0% |
| 2003 | 4,524,000 | −0.9% |
| 2002 | 4,564,000 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 4,531,000 | −1.2% |
| 2000 | 4,588,000 | −1.5% |
| 1999 | 4,658,000 | −1.1% |
| 1998 | 4,708,000 | −0.9% |
| 1997 | 4,750,000 | −1.6% |
| 1996 | 4,828,000 | −1.8% |
| 1995 | 4,916,000 | −1.5% |
| 1994 | 4,989,000 | −0.7% |
| 1993 | 5,024,000 | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 4,980,000 | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 4,873,000 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 4,760,000 | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 4,682,000 | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 4,667,000 | −0.6% |
| 1987 | 4,694,000 | −1.0% |
| 1986 | 4,742,000 | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 4,698,000 | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 4,682,000 | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 4,590,000 | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 4,485,000 | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 4,385,000 | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 4,248,000 | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 4,150,000 | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 4,009,000 | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 3,875,000 | +4.1% |
| 1976 | 3,723,000 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 3,644,000 | −0.2% |
| 1974 | 3,650,000 | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 3,597,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3,596,000 | −1.3% |
| 1971 | 3,644,000 | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 3,622,000 | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 3,487,000 | +9.6% |
| 1968 | 3,183,000 | +7.8% |
| 1967 | 2,952,000 | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 2,907,000 | −9.0% |
| 1965 | 3,193,000 | −7.8% |
| 1964 | 3,465,000 | −1.0% |
| 1963 | 3,500,000 | +4.4% |
| 1962 | 3,351,000 | +3.9% |
| 1961 | 3,225,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many cattle are there in Japan?

Japan had 4.0 million cattle in 2024, 0.25% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

Japan ranked 59th 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 Japan changed?

It rose by 0.6% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 5.0 million head in 1993.

### 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 Japan

[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/japan/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/japan/)[Sugar beet](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-beet/japan/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/japan/)[Hen eggs](https://husfarm.com/production/hen-eggs/japan/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/japan/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/japan/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/japan/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/japan/)[Cabbages](https://husfarm.com/production/cabbages/japan/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/japan/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/japan/)
[Agricultural production in Japan](https://husfarm.com/production/country/japan/)

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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