Cattle in South Korea
South Korea had 3.9 million cattle in 2024, the 60th largest in the world (0.25% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 22%. The record was 4.1 million head in 2022.
- Animals, 2024
- 3.9 million head
- World rank
- 60 of 190
- 10-year change
- +22%
- Record
- 4.1 million head
- 2022
Cattle in South Korea, 1961–2024 (head)
South Korea compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.25%
- 0.22% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +22%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | Belarus | 4,097,900 | 0.26% |
| 59 | Japan | 3,985,000 | 0.25% |
| 60 | South Korea | 3,889,278 | 0.25% |
| 61 | Senegal | 3,714,834 | 0.24% |
| 62 | Netherlands | 3,562,000 | 0.23% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; South Korea is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,889,278 | −3.6% |
| 2023 | 4,035,076 | −2.0% |
| 2022 | 4,116,407 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 3,990,257 | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 3,804,976 | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 3,645,190 | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 3,520,886 | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 3,428,330 | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 3,381,287 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 3,337,309 | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 3,189,951 | −4.6% |
| 2013 | 3,342,131 | −3.9% |
| 2012 | 3,478,714 | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 3,353,353 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 3,351,391 | +8.8% |
| 2009 | 3,079,353 | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 2,876,143 | +8.4% |
| 2007 | 2,653,976 | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 2,483,572 | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 2,297,414 | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 2,162,965 | +8.2% |
| 2003 | 1,998,936 | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 1,953,815 | −0.0% |
| 2001 | 1,954,025 | −8.4% |
| 2000 | 2,133,728 | −14% |
| 1999 | 2,486,495 | −15% |
| 1998 | 2,922,046 | −11% |
| 1997 | 3,279,849 | −3.4% |
| 1996 | 3,395,028 | +7.9% |
| 1995 | 3,147,494 | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 2,944,699 | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 2,813,815 | +11% |
| 1992 | 2,527,195 | +11% |
| 1991 | 2,268,729 | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 2,125,601 | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 2,051,238 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 2,039,191 | −15% |
| 1987 | 2,386,451 | −15% |
| 1986 | 2,807,344 | −4.6% |
| 1985 | 2,943,584 | +11% |
| 1984 | 2,652,000 | +20% |
| 1983 | 2,215,000 | +26% |
| 1982 | 1,753,892 | +16% |
| 1981 | 1,505,930 | −7.8% |
| 1980 | 1,634,051 | −7.3% |
| 1979 | 1,762,079 | −1.4% |
| 1978 | 1,787,158 | +10% |
| 1977 | 1,617,733 | +4.2% |
| 1976 | 1,553,226 | −5.4% |
| 1975 | 1,641,353 | −12% |
| 1974 | 1,858,355 | +20% |
| 1973 | 1,545,576 | +12% |
| 1972 | 1,374,349 | +7.4% |
| 1971 | 1,279,935 | −1.3% |
| 1970 | 1,296,673 | +5.8% |
| 1969 | 1,225,103 | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 1,210,518 | −3.6% |
| 1967 | 1,255,140 | −3.3% |
| 1966 | 1,297,305 | −1.8% |
| 1965 | 1,320,904 | −2.6% |
| 1964 | 1,356,790 | −0.8% |
| 1963 | 1,367,823 | +8.9% |
| 1962 | 1,255,817 | +14% |
| 1961 | 1,097,223 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in South Korea?
South Korea had 3.9 million cattle in 2024, 0.25% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Korea rank in the world by number of cattle?
South Korea ranked 60th 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 Korea changed?
It rose by 22% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 4.1 million head in 2022.
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.