Cattle in Uruguay
Uruguay had 12.0 million cattle in 2024, the 29th largest in the world (0.76% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 1.1%. The record was 12.7 million head in 2008.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 12.0 million head
- World rank
- 29 of 190
- 10-year change
- +1.1%
- Record
- 12.7 million head
- 2008
Cattle in Uruguay, 1961–2024 (head)
Uruguay compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.76%
- 0.82% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +1.1%
- world +9.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 31 | Canada | 10,985,000 | 0.70% |
Map of cattle numbers by country
Share of the world total; Uruguay is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,960,556 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 11,877,000 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 11,572,000 | −2.8% |
| 2021 | 11,910,000 | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 11,182,000 | −2.0% |
| 2019 | 11,411,000 | −0.5% |
| 2018 | 11,468,000 | −2.3% |
| 2017 | 11,739,000 | −2.1% |
| 2016 | 11,993,000 | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 11,911,000 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 11,834,000 | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 11,536,000 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 11,406,000 | −3.4% |
| 2011 | 11,808,000 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 11,800,000 | −5.5% |
| 2009 | 12,490,000 | −1.3% |
| 2008 | 12,657,000 | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 12,368,000 | −0.6% |
| 2006 | 12,437,000 | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 11,956,000 | −0.0% |
| 2004 | 11,958,000 | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 11,708,000 | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 11,268,000 | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 10,595,000 | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 10,353,000 | −0.3% |
| 1999 | 10,389,000 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 10,297,000 | −2.4% |
| 1997 | 10,553,000 | −0.9% |
| 1996 | 10,651,000 | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 10,450,000 | −0.6% |
| 1994 | 10,511,000 | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 10,217,000 | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 9,670,000 | +7.4% |
| 1991 | 9,001,000 | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 8,692,000 | −8.0% |
| 1989 | 9,446,155 | −8.6% |
| 1988 | 10,330,911 | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 9,945,313 | +6.9% |
| 1986 | 9,300,479 | −0.8% |
| 1985 | 9,371,000 | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 9,061,919 | −6.6% |
| 1983 | 9,704,325 | −14% |
| 1982 | 11,236,590 | −1.6% |
| 1981 | 11,420,838 | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 11,173,000 | +8.5% |
| 1979 | 10,300,000 | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 10,001,000 | −1.1% |
| 1977 | 10,111,000 | −2.6% |
| 1976 | 10,383,000 | −9.9% |
| 1975 | 11,530,000 | +8.0% |
| 1974 | 10,672,000 | +8.2% |
| 1973 | 9,860,187 | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 9,272,651 | +6.3% |
| 1971 | 8,727,000 | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 8,563,747 | −3.8% |
| 1969 | 8,900,000 | +3.2% |
| 1968 | 8,622,000 | +0.6% |
| 1967 | 8,570,000 | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 8,187,676 | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 8,142,000 | −6.4% |
| 1964 | 8,698,000 | +0.2% |
| 1963 | 8,682,000 | −1.7% |
| 1962 | 8,835,000 | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 8,792,428 | — |
Questions and answers
How many cattle are there in Uruguay?
Uruguay had 12.0 million cattle in 2024, 0.76% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Uruguay rank in the world by number of cattle?
Uruguay ranked 29th 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 Uruguay changed?
It rose by 1.1% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +9.7% for the world. The record was 12.7 million head in 2008.
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 Uruguay 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.