Cattle in Norway
Norway had 852,800 cattle in 2024, the 106th largest in the world (0.05% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 1.5%. The record was 1.2 million head in 1961.
- Animals, 2024
- 852,800 head
- World rank
- 106 of 190
- 10-year change
- +1.5%
- Record
- 1.2 million head
- 1961
Cattle in Norway, 1961–2024 (head)
Norway compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.05%
- 0.06% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +1.5%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | Botswana | 918,057 | 0.06% |
| 105 | Hungary | 869,900 | 0.06% |
| 106 | Norway | 852,800 | 0.05% |
| 107 | Georgia | 837,700 | 0.05% |
| 108 | Syria | 826,396 | 0.05% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Norway is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 852,800 | −2.4% |
| 2023 | 874,200 | −2.7% |
| 2022 | 898,800 | −0.2% |
| 2021 | 901,026 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 882,961 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 874,136 | −0.9% |
| 2018 | 881,991 | −0.4% |
| 2017 | 885,292 | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 872,145 | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 853,327 | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 840,000 | −1.6% |
| 2013 | 853,655 | −1.0% |
| 2012 | 861,924 | −0.3% |
| 2011 | 864,139 | −1.2% |
| 2010 | 874,529 | −0.4% |
| 2009 | 878,134 | −1.5% |
| 2008 | 891,170 | −1.6% |
| 2007 | 905,515 | −1.9% |
| 2006 | 922,976 | −1.1% |
| 2005 | 933,698 | −1.0% |
| 2004 | 943,208 | −1.4% |
| 2003 | 956,916 | −0.2% |
| 2002 | 958,661 | −2.1% |
| 2001 | 978,854 | −0.9% |
| 2000 | 987,915 | −4.4% |
| 1999 | 1,033,070 | −0.3% |
| 1998 | 1,036,416 | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 1,017,775 | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 1,005,766 | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 988,403 | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 979,456 | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 974,736 | −0.8% |
| 1992 | 982,507 | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 974,185 | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 953,100 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 949,400 | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 931,900 | −1.4% |
| 1987 | 945,000 | −2.3% |
| 1986 | 967,500 | −0.3% |
| 1985 | 970,200 | −0.6% |
| 1984 | 975,600 | −1.4% |
| 1983 | 989,000 | −2.0% |
| 1982 | 1,009,000 | −0.5% |
| 1981 | 1,014,500 | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 984,700 | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 968,843 | +1.6% |
| 1978 | 953,814 | +0.9% |
| 1977 | 944,920 | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 921,231 | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 914,905 | −4.2% |
| 1974 | 955,234 | −1.1% |
| 1973 | 965,557 | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 940,376 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 931,691 | −1.2% |
| 1970 | 943,002 | −3.1% |
| 1969 | 973,425 | −3.5% |
| 1968 | 1,008,353 | +1.3% |
| 1967 | 995,676 | −4.3% |
| 1966 | 1,040,898 | −1.7% |
| 1965 | 1,059,412 | −3.9% |
| 1964 | 1,101,851 | −1.8% |
| 1963 | 1,122,000 | −3.2% |
| 1962 | 1,158,800 | −1.8% |
| 1961 | 1,180,300 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Norway?
Norway had 852,800 cattle in 2024, 0.05% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Norway rank in the world by number of cattle?
Norway ranked 106th 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 Norway changed?
It rose by 1.5% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 1.2 million head in 1961.
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.