Cattle in South Africa
South Africa had 12.1 million cattle in 2024, the 28th largest in the world (0.77% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 13%. The record was 14.2 million head in 1979.
- Animals, 2024
- 12.1 million head
- World rank
- 28 of 190
- 10-year change
- −13%
- Record
- 14.2 million head
- 1979
Cattle in South Africa, 1961–2024 (head)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.77%
- 0.97% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −13%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Mali | 14,040,120 | 0.89% |
| 27 | Paraguay | 13,630,216 | 0.86% |
| 28 | South Africa | 12,122,027 | 0.77% |
| 29 | Uruguay | 11,960,556 | 0.76% |
| 30 | Bolivia | 11,245,622 | 0.71% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,122,027 | −0.6% |
| 2023 | 12,198,082 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12,196,802 | −0.3% |
| 2021 | 12,232,115 | −0.5% |
| 2020 | 12,297,621 | −2.3% |
| 2019 | 12,588,635 | −1.6% |
| 2018 | 12,789,515 | −1.3% |
| 2017 | 12,953,388 | −3.3% |
| 2016 | 13,400,272 | −2.1% |
| 2015 | 13,694,582 | −1.6% |
| 2014 | 13,915,301 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 13,861,194 | −0.2% |
| 2012 | 13,887,898 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 13,688,328 | −0.3% |
| 2010 | 13,731,044 | −0.2% |
| 2009 | 13,761,161 | −0.8% |
| 2008 | 13,865,431 | −0.3% |
| 2007 | 13,911,358 | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 13,532,000 | −1.9% |
| 2005 | 13,790,000 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 13,512,000 | −0.2% |
| 2003 | 13,538,000 | −0.7% |
| 2002 | 13,635,000 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 13,500,000 | −0.7% |
| 2000 | 13,600,000 | −1.4% |
| 1999 | 13,800,000 | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 13,700,000 | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 13,400,000 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 13,000,000 | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 12,600,000 | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 12,500,000 | −4.6% |
| 1993 | 13,100,000 | −3.0% |
| 1992 | 13,500,000 | 0.0% |
| 1991 | 13,500,000 | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 13,300,000 | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 12,800,000 | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 12,400,000 | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 12,200,000 | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 12,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1985 | 12,000,000 | −7.0% |
| 1984 | 12,900,000 | −1.5% |
| 1983 | 13,100,000 | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 12,900,000 | 0.0% |
| 1981 | 12,900,000 | −5.0% |
| 1980 | 13,575,000 | −4.2% |
| 1979 | 14,167,000 | +7.9% |
| 1978 | 13,135,000 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 13,060,000 | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 12,774,000 | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 12,700,000 | +3.3% |
| 1974 | 12,300,000 | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 11,900,000 | +3.5% |
| 1972 | 11,500,000 | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 11,234,298 | −0.6% |
| 1970 | 11,300,000 | +2.7% |
| 1969 | 11,007,313 | +2.9% |
| 1968 | 10,697,654 | +1.5% |
| 1967 | 10,538,274 | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 10,445,852 | −16% |
| 1965 | 12,500,000 | −0.8% |
| 1964 | 12,600,000 | 0.0% |
| 1963 | 12,600,000 | 0.0% |
| 1962 | 12,600,000 | +0.6% |
| 1961 | 12,527,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in South Africa?
South Africa had 12.1 million cattle in 2024, 0.77% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world by number of cattle?
South Africa ranked 28th 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 South Africa changed?
It fell by 13% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 14.2 million head in 1979.
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.