> South Africa had 5.1 million goats in 2024, the 38th largest in the world (0.43% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 15%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/goats/south-africa/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Goats](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/)›South AfricaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# Goats in South Africa

South Africa had 5.1 million goats in 2024, the 38th largest in the world (0.43% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 15%. The record was 6.7 million head in 2000.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/goat/)[Market prices in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/country/south-africa/)

Animals, 20245.1 million head
World rank38 of 181
10-year change−15%
Record6.7 million head2000

## Goats in South Africa, 1961–2024 (head)

## South Africa compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.43%0.62% in 2014
10-year change−15%world +23%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 36 | [Côte d'Ivoire](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/cote-divoire/) | 5,447,608 | 0.46% |
| 37 | [Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/australia/) | 5,400,000 | 0.45% |
| 38 | **South Africa** | 5,100,449 | 0.43% |
| 39 | [Algeria](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/algeria/) | 5,071,523 | 0.43% |
| 40 | [Zimbabwe](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/zimbabwe/) | 4,883,669 | 0.41% |

[Full ranking of 181 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/)

### Map of goats numbers by country

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 5,100,449 | −0.5% |
| 2023 | 5,125,311 | −0.3% |
| 2022 | 5,138,635 | −0.2% |
| 2021 | 5,150,163 | −0.4% |
| 2020 | 5,170,127 | −1.5% |
| 2019 | 5,251,039 | −2.8% |
| 2018 | 5,404,600 | −1.3% |
| 2017 | 5,474,800 | −2.6% |
| 2016 | 5,618,473 | −4.3% |
| 2015 | 5,872,332 | −1.7% |
| 2014 | 5,971,202 | −0.9% |
| 2013 | 6,027,966 | −1.9% |
| 2012 | 6,141,817 | −0.4% |
| 2011 | 6,165,051 | −1.7% |
| 2010 | 6,274,846 | −1.3% |
| 2009 | 6,357,838 | −2.6% |
| 2008 | 6,529,328 | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 6,265,380 | −2.1% |
| 2006 | 6,399,859 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 6,356,000 | −0.3% |
| 2004 | 6,372,000 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 6,358,000 | −1.5% |
| 2002 | 6,452,000 | −1.5% |
| 2001 | 6,550,000 | −2.3% |
| 2000 | 6,706,104 | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 6,457,064 | −1.5% |
| 1998 | 6,558,435 | −1.3% |
| 1997 | 6,643,927 | −0.5% |
| 1996 | 6,674,103 | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 6,456,789 | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 6,402,100 | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 6,086,850 | −5.2% |
| 1992 | 6,418,230 | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 6,200,000 | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 6,100,000 | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 6,000,000 | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 5,900,000 | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 5,850,000 | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 5,800,000 | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 5,780,000 | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 5,750,000 | −1.9% |
| 1983 | 5,861,000 | −0.1% |
| 1982 | 5,865,000 | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 5,787,000 | −0.1% |
| 1980 | 5,794,000 | +2.5% |
| 1979 | 5,650,000 | +4.6% |
| 1978 | 5,400,000 | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 5,250,000 | −1.4% |
| 1976 | 5,325,000 | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 5,271,000 | −1.4% |
| 1974 | 5,346,000 | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 5,252,000 | −1.8% |
| 1972 | 5,348,000 | −0.3% |
| 1971 | 5,364,000 | −5.5% |
| 1970 | 5,675,000 | −0.5% |
| 1969 | 5,701,294 | +2.5% |
| 1968 | 5,563,932 | −1.3% |
| 1967 | 5,636,690 | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 5,500,000 | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 5,341,000 | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 5,288,000 | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 5,236,000 | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 5,184,000 | +1.0% |
| 1961 | 5,133,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many goats are there in South Africa?

South Africa had 5.1 million goats in 2024, 0.43% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does South Africa rank in the world by number of goats?

South Africa ranked 38th 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 South Africa changed?

It fell by 15% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +23% for the world. The record was 6.7 million head in 2000.

### 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

[India](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/india/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/china/)[Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/nigeria/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/pakistan/)[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/ethiopia/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/chad/)[Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/kenya/)[Mali](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/mali/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/sudan/)[Tanzania](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/tanzania/)[Bangladesh](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/bangladesh/)[Mongolia](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/mongolia/)
[All countries producing goats](https://husfarm.com/production/goats/)

## Other products of South Africa

[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/south-africa/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/south-africa/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/south-africa/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/south-africa/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/south-africa/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/south-africa/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/south-africa/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/south-africa/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/south-africa/)[Soybeans](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/south-africa/)[Oranges](https://husfarm.com/production/oranges/south-africa/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/south-africa/)
[Agricultural production in South Africa](https://husfarm.com/production/country/south-africa/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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