FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Cattle in Zambia
Zambia had 4.9 million cattle in 2024, the 53rd largest in the world (0.31% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 20%. The record was 5.1 million head in 2023.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 4.9 million head
- World rank
- 53 of 190
- 10-year change
- +20%
- Record
- 5.1 million head
- 2023
Cattle in Zambia, 1961–2024 (head)
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,887,687 | −4.5% |
| 2023 | 5,115,495 | +8.9% |
| 2022 | 4,698,972 | +14% |
| 2021 | 4,114,604 | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 3,814,438 | −2.9% |
| 2019 | 3,927,432 | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 3,714,667 | −0.1% |
| 2017 | 3,718,729 | −2.0% |
| 2016 | 3,793,263 | −3.9% |
| 2015 | 3,946,348 | −3.4% |
| 2014 | 4,085,000 | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 4,026,658 | +2.7% |
| 2012 | 3,922,107 | +54% |
| 2011 | 2,539,797 | −18% |
| 2010 | 3,100,000 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 3,038,000 | +31% |
| 2008 | 2,315,327 | −5.8% |
| 2007 | 2,457,563 | −12% |
| 2006 | 2,799,965 | +9.1% |
| 2005 | 2,566,754 | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 2,341,970 | −1.4% |
| 2003 | 2,375,473 | −5.6% |
| 2002 | 2,517,550 | −6.8% |
| 2001 | 2,700,000 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 2,620,987 | −9.8% |
| 1999 | 2,904,880 | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 2,747,176 | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 2,700,516 | +23% |
| 1996 | 2,200,000 | −8.3% |
| 1995 | 2,400,000 | −7.7% |
| 1994 | 2,600,000 | −7.1% |
| 1993 | 2,800,000 | −6.7% |
| 1992 | 3,000,000 | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 2,984,000 | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 2,878,000 | +7.7% |
| 1989 | 2,672,413 | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 2,637,649 | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 2,600,810 | +3.2% |
| 1986 | 2,520,061 | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 2,469,721 | +11% |
| 1984 | 2,215,377 | −5.1% |
| 1983 | 2,334,873 | −4.9% |
| 1982 | 2,456,102 | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 2,317,933 | +6.3% |
| 1980 | 2,181,214 | −1.5% |
| 1979 | 2,214,272 | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 2,127,170 | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 2,086,768 | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 2,009,072 | +12% |
| 1975 | 1,793,983 | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 1,721,410 | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 1,705,871 | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 1,668,000 | +3.0% |
| 1971 | 1,620,000 | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 1,574,000 | +1.7% |
| 1969 | 1,547,000 | +8.0% |
| 1968 | 1,433,000 | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 1,407,000 | +6.3% |
| 1966 | 1,324,000 | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 1,302,000 | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 1,267,000 | −0.2% |
| 1963 | 1,270,000 | −0.1% |
| 1962 | 1,271,000 | −0.9% |
| 1961 | 1,283,000 | — |
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.