Goats in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe had 4.9 million goats in 2024, the 40th largest in the world (0.41% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 15%. The record was 6.5 million head in 2023.
- Animals, 2024
- 4.9 million head
- World rank
- 40 of 181
- 10-year change
- +15%
- Record
- 6.5 million head
- 2023
Goats in Zimbabwe, 1961–2024 (head)
Zimbabwe compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.41%
- 0.44% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +15%
- world +23%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | South Africa | 5,100,449 | 0.43% |
| 39 | Algeria | 5,071,523 | 0.43% |
| 40 | Zimbabwe | 4,883,669 | 0.41% |
| 41 | Guinea | 4,829,211 | 0.41% |
| 42 | Turkmenistan | 4,779,099 | 0.40% |
Map of goats numbers by country
Share of the world total; Zimbabwe is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,883,669 | −24% |
| 2023 | 6,464,047 | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 6,171,932 | +8.5% |
| 2021 | 5,686,925 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 5,550,904 | −3.0% |
| 2019 | 5,721,322 | +13% |
| 2018 | 5,054,753 | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 4,692,803 | +38% |
| 2016 | 3,393,964 | −16% |
| 2015 | 4,049,528 | −4.6% |
| 2014 | 4,243,102 | −15% |
| 2013 | 5,000,000 | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 4,900,000 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 4,719,278 | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 4,665,875 | +11% |
| 2009 | 4,207,000 | +33% |
| 2008 | 3,170,000 | −4.5% |
| 2007 | 3,320,000 | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 3,269,000 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 3,248,000 | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 3,105,000 | −4.8% |
| 2003 | 3,260,000 | −3.5% |
| 2002 | 3,378,000 | −7.6% |
| 2001 | 3,657,000 | +14% |
| 2000 | 3,200,000 | +10.0% |
| 1999 | 2,909,870 | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 2,750,000 | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 2,700,000 | −0.2% |
| 1996 | 2,705,462 | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 2,615,000 | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 2,580,000 | +3.2% |
| 1993 | 2,500,000 | −1.6% |
| 1992 | 2,540,000 | −0.2% |
| 1991 | 2,545,000 | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 2,540,000 | +7.3% |
| 1989 | 2,368,000 | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 2,317,000 | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 2,162,000 | +8.9% |
| 1986 | 1,986,000 | +22% |
| 1985 | 1,624,000 | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 1,507,000 | +39% |
| 1983 | 1,081,000 | +18% |
| 1982 | 920,000 | −26% |
| 1981 | 1,243,000 | +27% |
| 1980 | 982,000 | −27% |
| 1979 | 1,348,000 | −31% |
| 1978 | 1,944,000 | +6.3% |
| 1977 | 1,828,000 | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 1,774,000 | −9.2% |
| 1975 | 1,953,000 | −2.4% |
| 1974 | 2,000,000 | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 1,974,000 | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 1,905,000 | +6.9% |
| 1971 | 1,782,000 | +13% |
| 1970 | 1,580,000 | +16% |
| 1969 | 1,361,467 | +30% |
| 1968 | 1,043,285 | +18% |
| 1967 | 882,000 | +9.3% |
| 1966 | 807,000 | +15% |
| 1965 | 700,000 | +17% |
| 1964 | 600,000 | +20% |
| 1963 | 500,000 | +11% |
| 1962 | 449,730 | +6.9% |
| 1961 | 420,700 | — |
Questions and answers
How many goats are there in Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe had 4.9 million goats in 2024, 0.41% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Zimbabwe rank in the world by number of goats?
Zimbabwe ranked 40th 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 Zimbabwe changed?
It rose by 15% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +23% for the world. The record was 6.5 million head in 2023.
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
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.