Goats in Botswana
Botswana had 1.2 million goats in 2024, the 75th largest in the world (0.10% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 25%. The record was 2.6 million head in 1995.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 1.2 million head
- World rank
- 75 of 181
- 10-year change
- −25%
- Record
- 2.6 million head
- 1995
Goats in Botswana, 1961–2024 (head)
Botswana compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.10%
- 0.17% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −25%
- world +23%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | France | 1,339,000 | 0.11% |
| 74 | Venezuela | 1,336,543 | 0.11% |
| 75 | Botswana | 1,205,792 | 0.10% |
| 76 | Egypt | 1,140,000 | 0.10% |
| 77 | Tunisia | 1,129,662 | 0.10% |
Map of goats numbers by country
Share of the world total; Botswana is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,205,792 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 1,178,713 | −2.6% |
| 2022 | 1,210,035 | −3.3% |
| 2021 | 1,250,865 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 1,241,957 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 1,228,744 | −3.9% |
| 2018 | 1,278,572 | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 1,199,661 | −11% |
| 2016 | 1,342,319 | +11% |
| 2015 | 1,205,238 | −25% |
| 2014 | 1,605,642 | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 1,532,873 | −7.1% |
| 2012 | 1,649,615 | −6.8% |
| 2011 | 1,769,811 | −8.7% |
| 2010 | 1,937,971 | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 1,866,630 | −0.6% |
| 2008 | 1,878,833 | +15% |
| 2007 | 1,640,437 | −16% |
| 2006 | 1,950,000 | 0.0% |
| 2005 | 1,950,000 | +22% |
| 2004 | 1,600,000 | +18% |
| 2003 | 1,355,000 | −19% |
| 2002 | 1,683,000 | −11% |
| 2001 | 1,887,000 | −0.7% |
| 2000 | 1,900,000 | −0.8% |
| 1999 | 1,916,000 | −13% |
| 1998 | 2,199,000 | −16% |
| 1997 | 2,615,000 | +19% |
| 1996 | 2,205,000 | −16% |
| 1995 | 2,624,000 | +42% |
| 1994 | 1,850,000 | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 1,837,700 | −12% |
| 1992 | 2,100,000 | −8.7% |
| 1991 | 2,301,000 | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 2,092,400 | +10% |
| 1989 | 1,897,200 | +12% |
| 1988 | 1,690,800 | +15% |
| 1987 | 1,469,900 | +10% |
| 1986 | 1,332,000 | +17% |
| 1985 | 1,138,000 | +28% |
| 1984 | 889,300 | +14% |
| 1983 | 782,800 | +23% |
| 1982 | 635,500 | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 621,200 | −2.6% |
| 1980 | 638,000 | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 616,000 | +18% |
| 1978 | 520,000 | −5.5% |
| 1977 | 550,000 | −5.2% |
| 1976 | 580,000 | −3.3% |
| 1975 | 600,000 | −14% |
| 1974 | 700,000 | +2.6% |
| 1973 | 682,000 | −31% |
| 1972 | 983,229 | −4.8% |
| 1971 | 1,033,132 | −4.5% |
| 1970 | 1,082,000 | +28% |
| 1969 | 846,509 | +20% |
| 1968 | 703,254 | +8.7% |
| 1967 | 646,842 | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 630,000 | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 600,000 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 580,000 | +5.5% |
| 1963 | 550,000 | +3.8% |
| 1962 | 530,000 | +6.0% |
| 1961 | 500,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many goats are there in Botswana?
Botswana had 1.2 million goats in 2024, 0.10% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Botswana rank in the world by number of goats?
Botswana ranked 75th of 181 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in India with 17.7% of the world total.
How has the number of goats in Botswana changed?
It fell by 25% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +23% for the world. The record was 2.6 million head in 1995.
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 Botswana is estimated 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.