Goats in Malawi
Malawi had 13.8 million goats in 2024, the 19th largest in the world (1.16% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 134%. This is the highest figure on record.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 13.8 million head
- World rank
- 19 of 181
- 10-year change
- +134%
- Record
- 13.8 million head
- 2024
Goats in Malawi, 1961–2024 (head)
Malawi compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.2%
- 0.61% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +134%
- world +23%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | South Sudan | 15,668,794 | 1.3% |
| 18 | Nepal | 15,289,954 | 1.3% |
| 19 | Malawi | 13,790,630 | 1.2% |
| 20 | Brazil | 13,292,844 | 1.1% |
| 21 | Somalia | 11,301,103 | 0.95% |
Map of goats numbers by country
Share of the world total; Malawi is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13,790,630 | +6.1% |
| 2023 | 12,994,613 | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 12,238,382 | +10% |
| 2021 | 11,104,382 | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 10,727,448 | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 10,028,678 | +20% |
| 2018 | 8,374,006 | +8.5% |
| 2017 | 7,718,938 | +5.0% |
| 2016 | 7,348,361 | +12% |
| 2015 | 6,545,306 | +11% |
| 2014 | 5,882,106 | +9.8% |
| 2013 | 5,356,545 | +8.7% |
| 2012 | 4,929,808 | +11% |
| 2011 | 4,442,907 | +14% |
| 2010 | 3,893,922 | +12% |
| 2009 | 3,480,473 | +12% |
| 2008 | 3,106,271 | +14% |
| 2007 | 2,720,126 | +18% |
| 2006 | 2,301,349 | +17% |
| 2005 | 1,961,080 | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 1,922,264 | +12% |
| 2003 | 1,716,822 | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 1,659,966 | −0.6% |
| 2001 | 1,669,669 | −1.2% |
| 2000 | 1,689,485 | +18% |
| 1999 | 1,427,134 | −11% |
| 1998 | 1,597,536 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 1,566,514 | +25% |
| 1996 | 1,257,340 | +49% |
| 1995 | 843,362 | −1.5% |
| 1994 | 856,314 | −12% |
| 1993 | 977,126 | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 942,296 | +11% |
| 1991 | 848,716 | −0.5% |
| 1990 | 853,324 | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 850,000 | 0.0% |
| 1988 | 850,000 | −0.9% |
| 1987 | 857,410 | +8.6% |
| 1986 | 789,300 | −1.2% |
| 1985 | 799,094 | +8.2% |
| 1984 | 738,547 | +17% |
| 1983 | 631,071 | −17% |
| 1982 | 760,947 | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 718,154 | +10% |
| 1980 | 650,203 | −0.7% |
| 1979 | 655,084 | −18% |
| 1978 | 794,438 | −4.8% |
| 1977 | 834,586 | +13% |
| 1976 | 739,088 | +6.6% |
| 1975 | 693,374 | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 677,089 | +20% |
| 1973 | 565,580 | −10% |
| 1972 | 629,901 | −1.4% |
| 1971 | 639,079 | +6.6% |
| 1970 | 599,393 | −2.8% |
| 1969 | 616,961 | −7.2% |
| 1968 | 665,007 | +6.2% |
| 1967 | 626,121 | +35% |
| 1966 | 464,548 | 0.0% |
| 1965 | 464,548 | −3.3% |
| 1964 | 480,295 | +9.5% |
| 1963 | 438,488 | −11% |
| 1962 | 493,184 | −6.9% |
| 1961 | 529,458 | — |
Questions and answers
How many goats are there in Malawi?
Malawi had 13.8 million goats in 2024, 1.2% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Malawi rank in the world by number of goats?
Malawi ranked 19th 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 Malawi changed?
It rose by 134% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +23% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
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 Malawi 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.