Cattle in Netherlands
Netherlands had 3.6 million cattle in 2024, the 62nd largest in the world (0.23% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 15%. The record was 5.5 million head in 1984.
- Animals, 2024
- 3.6 million head
- World rank
- 62 of 190
- 10-year change
- −15%
- Record
- 5.5 million head
- 1984
Cattle in Netherlands, 1961–2024 (head)
Netherlands compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.23%
- 0.29% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −15%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | South Korea | 3,889,278 | 0.25% |
| 61 | Senegal | 3,714,834 | 0.24% |
| 62 | Netherlands | 3,562,000 | 0.23% |
| 63 | Ecuador | 3,436,276 | 0.22% |
| 64 | Cuba | 3,250,000 | 0.21% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Netherlands is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,562,000 | −4.7% |
| 2023 | 3,739,000 | −0.3% |
| 2022 | 3,751,000 | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 3,705,000 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 3,691,000 | −0.8% |
| 2019 | 3,721,000 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 3,690,000 | −8.4% |
| 2017 | 4,030,000 | −6.1% |
| 2016 | 4,294,000 | −0.5% |
| 2015 | 4,315,000 | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 4,169,000 | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 3,999,220 | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 3,879,250 | −0.2% |
| 2011 | 3,885,350 | −2.3% |
| 2010 | 3,975,190 | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 3,967,600 | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 3,890,000 | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 3,763,000 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 3,749,000 | −1.3% |
| 2005 | 3,799,000 | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 3,767,000 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 3,759,000 | −2.6% |
| 2002 | 3,858,000 | −4.7% |
| 2001 | 4,047,000 | −0.6% |
| 2000 | 4,070,000 | −3.2% |
| 1999 | 4,206,000 | −1.8% |
| 1998 | 4,283,000 | −2.9% |
| 1997 | 4,411,000 | −3.2% |
| 1996 | 4,557,000 | −2.1% |
| 1995 | 4,654,000 | −1.3% |
| 1994 | 4,716,000 | −1.7% |
| 1993 | 4,797,000 | −2.5% |
| 1992 | 4,920,000 | −2.8% |
| 1991 | 5,062,000 | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 4,926,000 | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 4,772,000 | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 4,546,000 | −7.1% |
| 1987 | 4,894,841 | −4.5% |
| 1986 | 5,122,950 | −2.4% |
| 1985 | 5,247,651 | −4.9% |
| 1984 | 5,516,243 | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 5,410,889 | +3.2% |
| 1982 | 5,240,687 | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 5,191,497 | −0.7% |
| 1980 | 5,225,857 | +8.9% |
| 1979 | 4,797,000 | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 4,673,000 | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 4,528,000 | −1.7% |
| 1976 | 4,606,000 | −2.3% |
| 1975 | 4,714,000 | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 4,666,000 | +14% |
| 1973 | 4,111,000 | +9.7% |
| 1972 | 3,748,000 | +8.2% |
| 1971 | 3,465,000 | −5.8% |
| 1970 | 3,679,000 | −0.4% |
| 1969 | 3,694,000 | −10% |
| 1968 | 4,116,287 | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 4,029,806 | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 3,968,471 | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 3,750,629 | +5.1% |
| 1964 | 3,567,379 | −3.5% |
| 1963 | 3,695,185 | −3.2% |
| 1962 | 3,816,942 | +5.4% |
| 1961 | 3,622,588 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Netherlands?
Netherlands had 3.6 million cattle in 2024, 0.23% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Netherlands rank in the world by number of cattle?
Netherlands ranked 62nd 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 Netherlands changed?
It fell by 15% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 5.5 million head in 1984.
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
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.