Horses in Canada
Canada had 400,306 horses in 2024, the 24th largest in the world (0.71% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 1.9%. The record was 555,000 head in 1961.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 400,306 head
- World rank
- 24 of 143
- 10-year change
- −1.9%
- Record
- 555,000 head
- 1961
Horses in Canada, 1961–2024 (head)
Canada compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.71%
- 0.75% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −1.9%
- world +2.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Sierra Leone | 444,910 | 0.79% |
| 23 | Uruguay | 410,347 | 0.73% |
| 24 | Canada | 400,306 | 0.71% |
| 25 | Pakistan | 382,000 | 0.68% |
| 26 | Dominican Republic | 367,585 | 0.65% |
Map of horses numbers by country
Share of the world total; Canada is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 400,306 | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 399,927 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 399,549 | −0.2% |
| 2021 | 400,453 | −0.0% |
| 2020 | 400,523 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 400,093 | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 399,757 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 399,345 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 398,716 | −0.3% |
| 2015 | 400,053 | −1.9% |
| 2014 | 408,000 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 407,000 | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 407,000 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 405,000 | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 400,000 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 390,000 | 0.0% |
| 2008 | 390,000 | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 385,000 | 0.0% |
| 2006 | 385,000 | 0.0% |
| 2005 | 385,000 | 0.0% |
| 2004 | 385,000 | 0.0% |
| 2003 | 385,000 | 0.0% |
| 2002 | 385,000 | −18% |
| 2001 | 470,000 | +22% |
| 2000 | 385,000 | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 380,000 | 0.0% |
| 1998 | 380,000 | −5.0% |
| 1997 | 400,000 | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 376,000 | −1.1% |
| 1995 | 380,000 | +8.6% |
| 1994 | 350,000 | −5.4% |
| 1993 | 370,000 | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 350,000 | −16% |
| 1991 | 419,000 | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 415,000 | 0.0% |
| 1989 | 415,000 | −25% |
| 1988 | 550,000 | +21% |
| 1987 | 455,000 | +17% |
| 1986 | 390,000 | −0.8% |
| 1985 | 393,000 | +3.4% |
| 1984 | 380,000 | 0.0% |
| 1983 | 380,000 | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 370,000 | 0.0% |
| 1981 | 370,000 | 0.0% |
| 1980 | 370,000 | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 350,000 | 0.0% |
| 1978 | 350,000 | 0.0% |
| 1977 | 350,000 | 0.0% |
| 1976 | 350,000 | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 345,000 | 0.0% |
| 1974 | 345,000 | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 343,000 | −4.6% |
| 1972 | 359,500 | −0.7% |
| 1971 | 361,900 | −2.2% |
| 1970 | 369,900 | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 355,600 | −1.1% |
| 1968 | 359,500 | −3.9% |
| 1967 | 373,900 | −6.4% |
| 1966 | 399,400 | −4.7% |
| 1965 | 418,900 | −4.8% |
| 1964 | 439,800 | −4.6% |
| 1963 | 461,000 | −7.1% |
| 1962 | 496,000 | −11% |
| 1961 | 555,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many horses are there in Canada?
Canada had 400,306 horses in 2024, 0.71% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Canada rank in the world by number of horses?
Canada ranked 24th 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 Canada changed?
It fell by 1.9% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +2.7% for the world. The record was 555,000 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 Canada 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.