Cattle in Sweden
Sweden had 1.3 million cattle in 2024, the 101st largest in the world (0.08% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 11%. The record was 2.6 million head in 1962.
- Animals, 2024
- 1.3 million head
- World rank
- 101 of 190
- 10-year change
- −11%
- Record
- 2.6 million head
- 1962
Cattle in Sweden, 1961–2024 (head)
Sweden compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.08%
- 0.10% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −11%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | Panama | 1,401,169 | 0.09% |
| 100 | Czechia | 1,397,410 | 0.09% |
| 101 | Sweden | 1,333,820 | 0.08% |
| 102 | Burundi | 1,228,356 | 0.08% |
| 103 | Sri Lanka | 1,125,450 | 0.07% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Sweden is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,333,820 | −2.6% |
| 2023 | 1,369,000 | −1.5% |
| 2022 | 1,390,550 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1,389,890 | −0.1% |
| 2020 | 1,390,960 | −1.0% |
| 2019 | 1,404,670 | −2.1% |
| 2018 | 1,435,450 | −0.9% |
| 2017 | 1,448,590 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 1,436,050 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 1,428,400 | −4.3% |
| 2014 | 1,493,119 | −0.2% |
| 2013 | 1,496,526 | −0.3% |
| 2012 | 1,500,293 | −0.8% |
| 2011 | 1,511,846 | −1.6% |
| 2010 | 1,536,700 | −0.1% |
| 2009 | 1,538,281 | −1.3% |
| 2008 | 1,558,381 | −0.1% |
| 2007 | 1,559,725 | −1.9% |
| 2006 | 1,590,409 | −0.9% |
| 2005 | 1,604,933 | −1.4% |
| 2004 | 1,628,464 | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 1,606,674 | −1.9% |
| 2002 | 1,637,465 | −0.8% |
| 2001 | 1,651,500 | −1.9% |
| 2000 | 1,683,700 | −1.7% |
| 1999 | 1,713,000 | −1.5% |
| 1998 | 1,738,500 | −2.4% |
| 1997 | 1,781,000 | −0.5% |
| 1996 | 1,790,200 | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 1,777,000 | −2.7% |
| 1994 | 1,826,489 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 1,807,366 | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 1,775,302 | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 1,706,778 | −0.7% |
| 1990 | 1,718,443 | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 1,687,650 | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 1,661,528 | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 1,655,944 | −3.5% |
| 1986 | 1,715,539 | −6.6% |
| 1985 | 1,837,201 | −2.2% |
| 1984 | 1,877,832 | −1.3% |
| 1983 | 1,901,916 | −1.8% |
| 1982 | 1,937,551 | −0.1% |
| 1981 | 1,938,800 | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 1,935,022 | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 1,910,838 | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 1,891,991 | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 1,877,843 | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 1,862,614 | −0.8% |
| 1975 | 1,878,580 | −1.6% |
| 1974 | 1,909,897 | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 1,889,887 | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 1,828,581 | −0.2% |
| 1971 | 1,832,998 | −4.8% |
| 1970 | 1,925,968 | −5.7% |
| 1969 | 2,042,835 | −0.9% |
| 1968 | 2,061,631 | −1.0% |
| 1967 | 2,083,448 | −5.8% |
| 1966 | 2,210,818 | −1.7% |
| 1965 | 2,250,100 | −2.6% |
| 1964 | 2,311,000 | −5.6% |
| 1963 | 2,447,060 | −5.0% |
| 1962 | 2,576,380 | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 2,574,870 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Sweden?
Sweden had 1.3 million cattle in 2024, 0.08% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Sweden rank in the world by number of cattle?
Sweden ranked 101st 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 Sweden changed?
It fell by 11% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 2.6 million head in 1962.
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.