Cattle in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia had 534,181 cattle in 2024, the 120th largest in the world (0.03% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 51%. The record was 700,000 head in 2020.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 534,181 head
- World rank
- 120 of 190
- 10-year change
- +51%
- Record
- 700,000 head
- 2020
Cattle in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2024 (head)
Saudi Arabia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.03%
- 0.02% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +51%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 118 | North Korea | 570,727 | 0.04% |
| 119 | Bulgaria | 558,770 | 0.04% |
| 120 | Saudi Arabia | 534,181 | 0.03% |
| 121 | Lesotho | 517,450 | 0.03% |
| 122 | Tunisia | 495,935 | 0.03% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Saudi Arabia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 534,181 | +6.4% |
| 2023 | 501,975 | +61% |
| 2022 | 312,060 | −31% |
| 2021 | 453,603 | −35% |
| 2020 | 700,000 | +23% |
| 2019 | 567,040 | +19% |
| 2018 | 477,255 | +31% |
| 2017 | 364,958 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 361,362 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 357,801 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 354,276 | −22% |
| 2013 | 456,371 | −6.2% |
| 2012 | 486,503 | +14% |
| 2011 | 426,204 | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 393,324 | −7.3% |
| 2009 | 424,489 | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 417,758 | −0.8% |
| 2007 | 421,000 | +14% |
| 2006 | 369,000 | +4.8% |
| 2005 | 352,000 | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 341,958 | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 331,933 | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 322,202 | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 306,202 | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 290,506 | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 280,513 | −4.6% |
| 1998 | 294,000 | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 277,261 | +7.0% |
| 1996 | 259,081 | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 252,760 | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 242,547 | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 229,222 | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 224,013 | +13% |
| 1991 | 197,893 | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 192,764 | −0.4% |
| 1989 | 193,634 | −0.9% |
| 1988 | 195,441 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 195,379 | −36% |
| 1986 | 303,026 | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 289,847 | +7.1% |
| 1984 | 270,582 | −3.0% |
| 1983 | 278,827 | −7.1% |
| 1982 | 300,000 | −14% |
| 1981 | 350,000 | −12% |
| 1980 | 398,726 | +6.8% |
| 1979 | 373,261 | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 352,669 | +11% |
| 1977 | 316,428 | −1.3% |
| 1976 | 320,704 | +14% |
| 1975 | 281,753 | +8.4% |
| 1974 | 260,000 | +12% |
| 1973 | 232,056 | +25% |
| 1972 | 185,920 | +9.4% |
| 1971 | 170,000 | +6.3% |
| 1970 | 160,000 | +6.7% |
| 1969 | 150,000 | +11% |
| 1968 | 135,000 | +12% |
| 1967 | 120,727 | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 120,000 | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 118,000 | +1.7% |
| 1964 | 116,000 | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 114,000 | +1.8% |
| 1962 | 112,000 | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 110,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia had 534,181 cattle in 2024, 0.03% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Saudi Arabia rank in the world by number of cattle?
Saudi Arabia ranked 120th 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 Saudi Arabia changed?
It rose by 51% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 700,000 head in 2020.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for Saudi Arabia is imputed by FAO. 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.