> Kenya had 22.4 million cattle in 2024, the 15th largest in the world (1.42% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 23%.

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

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# Cattle in Kenya

Kenya had 22.4 million cattle in 2024, the 15th largest in the world (1.42% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 23%. The record was 26.8 million head in 2020.

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

Animals, 202422.4 million head
World rank15 of 190
10-year change+23%
Record26.8 million head2020

## Cattle in Kenya, 1961–2024 (head)

## Kenya compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total1.4%1.3% in 2014
10-year change+23%world +9.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 13 | [Colombia](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/colombia/) | 30,344,182 | 1.9% |
| 14 | [Bangladesh](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/bangladesh/) | 25,013,000 | 1.6% |
| 15 | **Kenya** | 22,435,638 | 1.4% |
| 16 | [Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/nigeria/) | 20,943,448 | 1.3% |
| 17 | [Niger](https://husfarm.com/production/cattle/niger/) | 20,375,030 | 1.3% |

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 22,435,638 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 21,882,008 | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 20,830,134 | −8.9% |
| 2021 | 22,853,225 | −15% |
| 2020 | 26,765,935 | +28% |
| 2019 | 20,882,488 | +6.4% |
| 2018 | 19,635,142 | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 18,338,810 | −11% |
| 2016 | 20,529,190 | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 18,728,076 | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 18,247,632 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 18,138,500 | −5.2% |
| 2012 | 19,129,800 | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 18,173,500 | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 17,862,852 | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 17,467,774 | −5.0% |
| 2008 | 18,383,184 | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 17,537,332 | +41% |
| 2006 | 12,416,271 | −4.6% |
| 2005 | 13,019,049 | −0.0% |
| 2004 | 13,022,412 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 12,531,324 | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 11,939,977 | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 11,475,861 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 11,444,800 | −11% |
| 1999 | 12,787,700 | +9.4% |
| 1998 | 11,687,000 | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 11,408,500 | −0.9% |
| 1996 | 11,511,700 | −9.9% |
| 1995 | 12,779,000 | −1.7% |
| 1994 | 13,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1993 | 13,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1992 | 13,000,000 | −0.6% |
| 1991 | 13,074,800 | −5.2% |
| 1990 | 13,793,000 | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 13,457,000 | +3.1% |
| 1988 | 13,050,000 | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 12,645,000 | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 12,600,000 | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 12,500,000 | −4.4% |
| 1984 | 13,082,000 | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 12,500,000 | +14% |
| 1982 | 11,000,000 | +12% |
| 1981 | 9,800,000 | −2.0% |
| 1980 | 10,000,000 | −13% |
| 1979 | 11,453,400 | +12% |
| 1978 | 10,200,000 | +8.5% |
| 1977 | 9,400,000 | −1.1% |
| 1976 | 9,500,000 | −2.2% |
| 1975 | 9,712,000 | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 9,616,000 | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 9,381,000 | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 9,200,000 | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 8,900,000 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 8,600,000 | +10% |
| 1969 | 7,800,000 | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 7,750,000 | +0.3% |
| 1967 | 7,730,000 | −0.1% |
| 1966 | 7,740,000 | +3.2% |
| 1965 | 7,500,000 | +1.4% |
| 1964 | 7,398,000 | +8.8% |
| 1963 | 6,800,000 | −7.7% |
| 1962 | 7,366,000 | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 7,200,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many cattle are there in Kenya?

Kenya had 22.4 million cattle in 2024, 1.4% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

Kenya ranked 15th 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 Kenya changed?

It rose by 23% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 26.8 million head in 2020.

### 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 Kenya

[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/kenya/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/kenya/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/kenya/)[Tea leaves](https://husfarm.com/production/tea/kenya/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/kenya/)[Bananas](https://husfarm.com/production/bananas/kenya/)[Cassava](https://husfarm.com/production/cassava/kenya/)[Camel milk](https://husfarm.com/production/camel-milk/kenya/)[Cabbages](https://husfarm.com/production/cabbages/kenya/)[Beans, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/beans-dry/kenya/)[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/kenya/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/kenya/)
[Agricultural production in Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/country/kenya/)

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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