> Australia had 228,204 horses in 2024, the 34th largest in the world (0.41% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 15%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/horses/australia/

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# Horses in Australia

Australia had 228,204 horses in 2024, the 34th largest in the world (0.41% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 15%. The record was 598,428 head in 1961.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.

Animals, 2024228,204 head
World rank34 of 143
10-year change−15%
Record598,428 head1961

## Horses in Australia, 1961–2024 (head)

## Australia compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.41%0.49% in 2014
10-year change−15%world +2.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 32 | [Niger](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/niger/) | 268,765 | 0.48% |
| 33 | [Philippines](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/philippines/) | 248,273 | 0.44% |
| 34 | **Australia** | 228,204 | 0.41% |
| 35 | [Paraguay](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/paraguay/) | 223,392 | 0.40% |
| 36 | [Honduras](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/honduras/) | 182,378 | 0.32% |

[Full ranking of 143 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/)

### Map of horses numbers by country

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 228,204 | −6.0% |
| 2023 | 242,892 | −4.7% |
| 2022 | 254,901 | −3.4% |
| 2021 | 263,849 | −1.0% |
| 2020 | 266,476 | −0.9% |
| 2019 | 268,872 | −0.2% |
| 2018 | 269,544 | −0.4% |
| 2017 | 270,675 | −0.5% |
| 2016 | 272,113 | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 271,702 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 270,000 | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 267,000 | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 265,000 | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 259,467 | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 258,000 | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 256,413 | −1.4% |
| 2008 | 260,000 | −1.8% |
| 2007 | 264,876 | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 257,123 | +16% |
| 2005 | 221,042 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 219,147 | −0.4% |
| 2003 | 220,000 | 0.0% |
| 2002 | 220,000 | 0.0% |
| 2001 | 220,000 | 0.0% |
| 2000 | 220,000 | 0.0% |
| 1999 | 220,000 | 0.0% |
| 1998 | 220,000 | −4.3% |
| 1997 | 230,000 | 0.0% |
| 1996 | 230,000 | −4.2% |
| 1995 | 240,000 | −4.0% |
| 1994 | 250,000 | −8.1% |
| 1993 | 272,167 | −5.9% |
| 1992 | 289,346 | −6.1% |
| 1991 | 308,044 | −0.8% |
| 1990 | 310,418 | −2.0% |
| 1989 | 316,614 | −5.4% |
| 1988 | 334,562 | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 312,507 | −9.8% |
| 1986 | 346,300 | −17% |
| 1985 | 416,314 | −2.9% |
| 1984 | 428,715 | −4.5% |
| 1983 | 448,916 | −2.3% |
| 1982 | 459,457 | −6.0% |
| 1981 | 488,535 | −1.1% |
| 1980 | 493,744 | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 475,919 | +8.7% |
| 1978 | 437,882 | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 415,000 | +7.7% |
| 1976 | 385,386 | −9.3% |
| 1975 | 425,000 | −6.6% |
| 1974 | 455,000 | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 446,000 | −0.9% |
| 1972 | 450,000 | 0.0% |
| 1971 | 450,000 | −1.2% |
| 1970 | 455,682 | −0.3% |
| 1969 | 457,000 | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 448,000 | −6.5% |
| 1967 | 479,146 | −3.2% |
| 1966 | 495,000 | −4.8% |
| 1965 | 519,899 | −3.0% |
| 1964 | 535,834 | −2.1% |
| 1963 | 547,367 | −2.6% |
| 1962 | 562,003 | −6.1% |
| 1961 | 598,428 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many horses are there in Australia?

Australia had 228,204 horses in 2024, 0.41% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does Australia rank in the world by number of horses?

Australia ranked 34th of 143 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in Mexico with 11.4% of the world total.

### How has the number of horses in Australia changed?

It fell by 15% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +2.7% for the world. The record was 598,428 head in 1961.

### 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 Australia is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[Mexico](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/mexico/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/united-states/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/brazil/)[Mongolia](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/mongolia/)[Kazakhstan](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/kazakhstan/)[China](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/china/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/argentina/)[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/ethiopia/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/chad/)[Russia](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/russia/)[Colombia](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/colombia/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/sudan/)
[All countries producing horses](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/)

## Other products of Australia

[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/australia/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/australia/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/australia/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/australia/)[Rapeseed](https://husfarm.com/production/rapeseed/australia/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/australia/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/australia/)[Sorghum](https://husfarm.com/production/sorghum/australia/)[Seed cotton](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/australia/)[Chick peas, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/chick-peas/australia/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/australia/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/australia/)
[Agricultural production in Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/country/australia/)

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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