Horses: number of animals by country
The world had 56.2 million horses in 2024, up 2.7% over ten years. The largest herds were in Mexico (11.4%), United States (11.1%), Brazil (10.1%), together 33% of the world total.
- World total, 2024
- 56.2 million head
- 10-year change
- +2.7%
- Countries reporting
- 143
- Largest herd
- Mexico
World total, 1961–2024 (head)
Map of horses numbers by country, 2024
Share of the world total. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
Countries by number of animals, 2024
| # | Country | Head | Share | 10-year change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico I | 6,421,075 | 11.4% | +1.0% |
| 2 | United States I | 6,215,569 | 11.1% | −19% |
| 3 | Brazil | 5,702,612 | 10.1% | +4.6% |
| 4 | Mongolia | 4,683,233 | 8.33% | +56% |
| 5 | Kazakhstan | 4,353,028 | 7.74% | +144% |
| 6 | China | 3,521,000 | 6.26% | −18% |
| 7 | Argentina | 2,588,704 | 4.61% | −28% |
| 8 | Ethiopia I | 2,293,260 | 4.08% | +13% |
| 9 | Chad I | 1,550,515 | 2.76% | +247% |
| 10 | Russia I | 1,322,642 | 2.35% | −3.8% |
| 11 | Colombia | 964,426 | 1.72% | +18% |
| 12 | Sudan I | 796,418 | 1.42% | +1.0% |
| 13 | United Kingdom E | 760,529 | 1.35% | +27% |
| 14 | Peru I | 751,041 | 1.34% | +1.1% |
| 15 | Mali | 644,989 | 1.15% | +25% |
| 16 | Senegal I | 598,995 | 1.07% | +9.9% |
| 17 | Cuba I | 570,114 | 1.01% | −26% |
| 18 | Kyrgyzstan | 553,516 | 0.98% | +28% |
| 19 | Venezuela I | 524,139 | 0.93% | +0.4% |
| 20 | Bolivia I | 516,249 | 0.92% | +5.4% |
| 21 | Haiti I | 504,950 | 0.90% | +1.0% |
| 22 | Sierra Leone I | 444,910 | 0.79% | +4.0% |
| 23 | Uruguay E | 410,347 | 0.73% | −0.6% |
| 24 | Canada I | 400,306 | 0.71% | −1.9% |
| 25 | Pakistan | 382,000 | 0.68% | +6.1% |
| 26 | Dominican Republic I | 367,585 | 0.65% | +3.5% |
| 27 | Indonesia I | 350,930 | 0.62% | −18% |
| 28 | South Africa E | 339,966 | 0.60% | +9.0% |
| 29 | Chile I | 295,656 | 0.53% | −4.8% |
| 30 | France | 289,788 | 0.52% | −29% |
| 31 | Uzbekistan | 282,793 | 0.50% | +36% |
| 32 | Niger | 268,765 | 0.48% | +10% |
| 33 | Philippines I | 248,273 | 0.44% | +3.4% |
| 34 | Australia E | 228,204 | 0.41% | −15% |
| 35 | Paraguay E | 223,392 | 0.40% | −19% |
| 36 | Honduras I | 182,378 | 0.32% | +0.2% |
| 37 | India I | 174,515 | 0.31% | −72% |
| 38 | Morocco | 158,195 | 0.28% | +13% |
| 39 | Poland | 157,620 | 0.28% | −24% |
| 40 | Ecuador | 153,173 | 0.27% | −46% |
| 41 | Ukraine | 144,800 | 0.26% | −59% |
| 42 | Guatemala I | 133,195 | 0.24% | +2.9% |
| 43 | Iran I | 127,751 | 0.23% | −8.7% |
| 44 | Myanmar I | 117,653 | 0.21% | +2.0% |
| 45 | Costa Rica I | 117,571 | 0.21% | +76% |
| 46 | Nigeria I | 104,092 | 0.19% | +2.2% |
| 47 | Portugal | 103,000 | 0.18% | +24% |
| 48 | Panama I | 102,460 | 0.18% | −12% |
| 49 | Netherlands | 102,143 | 0.18% | −19% |
| 50 | El Salvador I | 98,260 | 0.17% | +0.2% |
| 51 | Ireland | 94,100 | 0.17% | −0.9% |
| 52 | Tajikistan | 91,626 | 0.16% | +18% |
| 53 | Egypt I | 89,098 | 0.16% | +19% |
| 54 | Lesotho E | 73,968 | 0.13% | +34% |
| 55 | Turkey | 70,360 | 0.13% | −46% |
| 56 | Mauritania I | 66,358 | 0.12% | +2.1% |
| 57 | Tunisia I | 57,197 | 0.10% | +0.2% |
| 58 | Algeria E | 50,860 | 0.09% | +21% |
| 59 | Iceland | 50,000 | 0.09% | −32% |
| 60 | Iraq I | 49,640 | 0.09% | −6.3% |
| 61 | Azerbaijan I | 49,583 | 0.09% | −34% |
| 62 | North Korea I | 48,351 | 0.09% | +0.7% |
| 63 | Switzerland | 48,006 | 0.09% | −16% |
| 64 | Fiji I | 47,707 | 0.08% | +1.5% |
| 65 | Libya I | 46,676 | 0.08% | +0.4% |
| 66 | Vietnam I | 46,406 | 0.08% | −31% |
| 67 | Denmark | 45,382 | 0.08% | −6.8% |
| 68 | Georgia I | 43,491 | 0.08% | +8.7% |
| 69 | Namibia I | 40,718 | 0.07% | −26% |
| 70 | Saudi Arabia I | 40,470 | 0.07% | +45% |
| 71 | Hungary | 40,000 | 0.07% | −35% |
| 72 | Norway | 35,980 | 0.06% | −7.3% |
| 73 | Timor-Leste I | 35,215 | 0.06% | −33% |
| 74 | Laos I | 31,957 | 0.06% | −1.7% |
| 75 | Cambodia I | 31,330 | 0.06% | +4.4% |
| 76 | New Zealand | 31,184 | 0.06% | −40% |
| 77 | Gambia | 28,573 | 0.05% | +522% |
| 78 | Zimbabwe I | 28,160 | 0.05% | +0.6% |
| 79 | Turkmenistan | 27,624 | 0.05% | +6.2% |
| 80 | South Korea I | 27,329 | 0.05% | +5.8% |
| 81 | Albania | 24,199 | 0.04% | −24% |
| 82 | Burkina Faso I | 20,683 | 0.04% | −48% |
| 83 | Belarus | 18,100 | 0.03% | −75% |
| 84 | Cameroon E | 16,274 | 0.03% | −12% |
| 85 | Qatar I | 15,744 | 0.03% | +685% |
| 86 | Serbia | 14,897 | 0.03% | −4.5% |
| 87 | Moldova | 14,849 | 0.03% | −67% |
| 88 | Armenia | 14,100 | 0.03% | +21% |
| 89 | Japan I | 13,230 | 0.02% | −17% |
| 90 | Lithuania | 12,827 | 0.02% | −42% |
| 91 | Tonga I | 11,900 | 0.02% | +8.2% |
| 92 | New Caledonia I | 10,725 | 0.02% | +7.3% |
| 93 | Bhutan | 10,499 | 0.02% | −51% |
| 94 | Latvia | 9,100 | 0.02% | −15% |
| 95 | Afghanistan I | 8,262 | 0.01% | −95% |
| 96 | North Macedonia | 7,815 | 0.01% | −60% |
| 97 | Syria | 6,600 | 0.01% | −60% |
| 98 | Belize I | 6,122 | 0.01% | +6.5% |
| 99 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5,380 | 0.01% | −68% |
| 100 | Thailand I | 5,316 | 0.01% | −16% |
| 101 | Malaysia | 4,437 | 0.01% | +21% |
| 102 | Puerto Rico I | 4,285 | 0.01% | −47% |
| 103 | Montenegro | 4,253 | 0.01% | −14% |
| 104 | Luxembourg | 4,054 | 0.01% | −14% |
| 105 | Jamaica I | 4,008 | 0.01% | +0.2% |
| 106 | Israel I | 4,000 | 0.01% | 0.0% |
| 107 | Guinea I | 3,678 | 0.01% | +9.8% |
| 108 | Lebanon I | 3,541 | 0.01% | −11% |
| 109 | Ghana I | 3,468 | 0.01% | +16% |
| 110 | Botswana I | 2,572 | 0.00% | −90% |
| 111 | Vanuatu I | 2,416 | 0.00% | −63% |
| 112 | Guinea-Bissau I | 2,406 | 0.00% | +4.6% |
| 113 | Guyana I | 2,340 | 0.00% | −2.5% |
| 114 | Jordan I | 2,205 | 0.00% | −9.3% |
| 115 | French Polynesia I | 2,200 | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| 116 | Togo I | 2,105 | 0.00% | +14% |
| 117 | Kenya I | 2,036 | 0.00% | −0.7% |
| 118 | Papua New Guinea I | 2,033 | 0.00% | −0.8% |
| 119 | Samoa I | 1,954 | 0.00% | +2.8% |
| 120 | Eswatini I | 1,756 | 0.00% | +6.4% |
| 121 | Yemen I | 1,697 | 0.00% | −17% |
| 122 | Hong Kong I | 1,561 | 0.00% | +2.4% |
| 123 | Trinidad and Tobago I | 1,407 | 0.00% | +0.5% |
| 124 | Sri Lanka I | 1,256 | 0.00% | −9.0% |
| 125 | Barbados I | 1,230 | 0.00% | −0.8% |
| 126 | Benin I | 1,173 | 0.00% | −2.3% |
| 127 | Kuwait I | 1,159 | 0.00% | +7.3% |
| 128 | Saint Lucia I | 1,113 | 0.00% | +1.2% |
| 129 | Angola I | 1,012 | 0.00% | +1.2% |
| 130 | Somalia I | 905 | 0.00% | +6.5% |
| 131 | Taiwan I | 873 | 0.00% | +2.1% |
| 132 | Cabo Verde I | 597 | 0.00% | +11% |
| 133 | Madagascar I | 520 | 0.00% | +6.1% |
| 134 | Antigua and Barbuda I | 493 | 0.00% | −1.4% |
| 135 | United Arab Emirates I | 448 | 0.00% | +6.7% |
| 136 | Suriname I | 344 | 0.00% | +121% |
| 137 | Sao Tome and Principe I | 314 | 0.00% | +8.3% |
| 138 | Cook Islands I | 300 | 0.00% | −1.6% |
| 139 | Malawi I | 235 | 0.00% | +120% |
| 140 | Solomon Islands I | 151 | 0.00% | +0.7% |
| 141 | Mauritius I | 144 | 0.00% | −4.0% |
| 142 | Congo I | 75 | 0.00% | 0.0% |
| 143 | Grenada I | 30 | 0.00% | 0.0% |
E = estimated by FAO, I = imputed by FAO, X = from an external organisation; other figures are official.
How concentrated is the world herd?
The largest herd, in Mexico, accounts for 11.4% of the world total in 2024; the five largest for 48.7% and the ten largest for 68.8%.
| Year | Top 5 share | Top 10 share | Countries with data |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 51.7% | 68.2% | 161 |
| 2005 | 54.8% | 69.4% | 161 |
| 2010 | 51.8% | 67.4% | 159 |
| 2015 | 49.1% | 65.7% | 160 |
| 2020 | 47.6% | 66.9% | 148 |
| 2024 | 48.7% | 68.8% | 143 |
By continent, 2024
| Continent | Head | Share of world | Share in 2014 | 10-year change | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | 15.5 million head | 27.5% | 23.0% | +23% | 41 |
| North and Central America | 15.1 million head | 26.9% | 31.0% | −11% | 19 |
| South America | 12.1 million head | 21.6% | 23.6% | −6.0% | 12 |
| Africa | 7.7 million head | 13.8% | 11.1% | +27% | 37 |
| Europe | 3.3 million head | 5.9% | 10.5% | −43% | 23 |
| Oceania | 338,774 head | 0.6% | 0.7% | −16% | 11 |
Sums of country figures; the world total also includes countries without a continent assignment, so shares may not add up to 100%.
Fastest growing and declining producers, 2014–2024
Countries with at least 0.5% of world numbers in 2024, change over ten years.
Growing
| Chad | 1.6 million head | +247% |
| Kazakhstan | 4.4 million head | +144% |
| Mongolia | 4.7 million head | +56% |
| Uzbekistan | 282,793 head | +36% |
| Kyrgyzstan | 553,516 head | +28% |
Declining
| France | 289,788 head | −29% |
| Argentina | 2.6 million head | −28% |
| Cuba | 570,114 head | −26% |
| United States | 6.2 million head | −19% |
| China | 3.5 million head | −18% |
Long-term trend, 1961–2024
- Average growth per year, 1961–2024
- −0.2%
- Average growth per year, last 10 years
- +0.3%
- Record year
- 1961 62.2 million head
- Largest yearly fall
- 1962 −3.5%
| Decade | Average per year | vs previous decade |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s (1961–1969) | 59.6 million head | — |
| 1970s | 61.0 million head | +2.4% |
| 1980s | 59.8 million head | −2.0% |
| 1990s | 59.4 million head | −0.7% |
| 2000s | 58.6 million head | −1.4% |
| 2010s | 55.2 million head | −5.7% |
| 2020s (2020–2024) | 56.6 million head | +2.4% |
Questions and answers
Which country has the most horses?
Mexico had the largest number, 6.4 million head in 2024, 11.4% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
How many horses are there in the world?
FAOSTAT counts 56.2 million head in 2024, +2.7% compared with 2014.
Which countries have the most horses?
In 2024: Mexico (6.4 million head, 11.4%), United States (6.2 million head, 11.1%), Brazil (5.7 million head, 10.1%), Mongolia (4.7 million head, 8.3%), Kazakhstan (4.4 million head, 7.7%). Together they account for 48.7% of the world total.
Where does this data come from?
Production and area figures are from FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (dataset Crops and livestock products, release of 23 December 2025). Shares, rankings, changes and averages are calculated by Husfarm.
Related products
About the data
- Figures are numbers of live animals as reported to or estimated by FAO for each calendar year; the latest year is 2024.
- Letters next to a country mark figures that are not official national data: E estimated by FAO, I imputed by FAO (filled in by a statistical model), X taken from an external organisation. Treat them as approximate.
- Shares are relative to the FAO world total; ten-year changes compare 2024 with 2014; average growth per year is the compound annual rate between the two years.
- Country series on Husfarm start in 2000; the world series starts in 1961.
Download CSV All countries and years: production and FAO flag.
How to cite: FAO (2025). FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products — Horses. Retrieved via Husfarm, https://husfarm.com/production/horses/. Licence CC BY 4.0.
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.