FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Cattle in Nigeria
Nigeria had 20.9 million cattle in 2024, the 16th largest in the world (1.33% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 6.0%. This is the highest figure on record.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 20.9 million head
- World rank
- 16 of 190
- 10-year change
- +6.0%
- Record
- 20.9 million head
- 2024
Cattle in Nigeria, 1961–2024 (head)
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20,943,448 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 20,896,548 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 20,862,418 | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 20,764,244 | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 20,585,153 | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 20,402,276 | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 20,240,605 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 20,057,095 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 19,884,104 | −1.5% |
| 2015 | 20,184,763 | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 19,753,249 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 19,374,029 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 19,206,928 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 19,041,270 | +15% |
| 2010 | 16,577,962 | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 16,434,978 | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 16,293,200 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 16,152,700 | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 16,013,382 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 15,875,266 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 15,700,000 | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 15,163,700 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 15,148,600 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 15,133,400 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 15,118,300 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 15,103,200 | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 15,088,100 | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 15,073,000 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 15,050,000 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 15,000,000 | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 14,881,350 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 14,807,320 | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 14,086,820 | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 14,016,740 | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 13,947,000 | −0.1% |
| 1989 | 13,957,940 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 13,759,000 | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 13,415,000 | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 13,156,000 | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 12,908,000 | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 12,702,000 | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 12,584,000 | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 12,386,000 | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 12,214,000 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 12,108,000 | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 11,877,000 | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 11,576,000 | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 11,223,000 | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 10,962,000 | +3.9% |
| 1975 | 10,548,000 | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 10,253,000 | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 9,975,000 | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 9,550,000 | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 9,203,000 | +3.6% |
| 1970 | 8,887,000 | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 8,578,000 | +4.7% |
| 1968 | 8,190,000 | +4.6% |
| 1967 | 7,828,000 | +4.2% |
| 1966 | 7,516,000 | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 7,236,000 | +4.2% |
| 1964 | 6,946,000 | +4.8% |
| 1963 | 6,627,000 | +5.0% |
| 1962 | 6,311,000 | +4.7% |
| 1961 | 6,028,000 | — |
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.