> France had 289,788 horses in 2024, the 30th largest in the world (0.52% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 29%.

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

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# Horses in France

France had 289,788 horses in 2024, the 30th largest in the world (0.52% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 29%. The record was 1.7 million head in 1961.

[Market prices in France](https://husfarm.com/country/france/)

Animals, 2024289,788 head
World rank30 of 143
10-year change−29%
Record1.7 million head1961

## Horses in France, 1961–2024 (head)

## France compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.52%0.74% in 2014
10-year change−29%world +2.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 28 | [South Africa](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/south-africa/) | 339,966 | 0.60% |
| 29 | [Chile](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/chile/) | 295,656 | 0.53% |
| 30 | **France** | 289,788 | 0.52% |
| 31 | [Uzbekistan](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/uzbekistan/) | 282,793 | 0.50% |
| 32 | [Niger](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/niger/) | 268,765 | 0.48% |

[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; France is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 289,788 | −0.5% |
| 2023 | 291,286 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 289,607 | −0.5% |
| 2021 | 291,165 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 290,857 | −21% |
| 2019 | 367,174 | −1.0% |
| 2018 | 370,881 | −1.2% |
| 2017 | 375,266 | −1.1% |
| 2016 | 379,410 | −4.7% |
| 2015 | 398,055 | −1.9% |
| 2014 | 405,649 | −0.6% |
| 2013 | 408,028 | −1.5% |
| 2012 | 414,284 | −2.4% |
| 2011 | 424,590 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 422,902 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 422,665 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 421,065 | −0.5% |
| 2007 | 423,049 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 422,872 | −0.8% |
| 2005 | 426,227 | −0.2% |
| 2004 | 427,079 | +1.8% |
| 2003 | 419,625 | −0.4% |
| 2002 | 421,268 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 418,135 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 417,016 | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 393,186 | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 390,780 | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 383,479 | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 371,526 | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 362,894 | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 351,951 | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 347,558 | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 339,171 | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 334,810 | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 319,046 | +19% |
| 1989 | 268,681 | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 266,100 | −0.6% |
| 1987 | 267,724 | −1.3% |
| 1986 | 271,204 | −7.8% |
| 1985 | 294,000 | −1.3% |
| 1984 | 298,000 | −2.6% |
| 1983 | 306,000 | −5.3% |
| 1982 | 323,000 | +1.8% |
| 1981 | 317,444 | −13% |
| 1980 | 364,417 | −2.4% |
| 1979 | 373,500 | −1.6% |
| 1978 | 379,600 | −4.5% |
| 1977 | 397,600 | −0.1% |
| 1976 | 398,100 | −3.6% |
| 1975 | 413,000 | −2.8% |
| 1974 | 425,000 | −4.8% |
| 1973 | 446,600 | −15% |
| 1972 | 524,200 | −16% |
| 1971 | 626,000 | −10% |
| 1970 | 696,500 | −7.1% |
| 1969 | 749,900 | −14% |
| 1968 | 874,400 | −16% |
| 1967 | 1,044,000 | −6.3% |
| 1966 | 1,114,200 | −9.2% |
| 1965 | 1,227,700 | −9.5% |
| 1964 | 1,356,800 | −11% |
| 1963 | 1,526,200 | −5.6% |
| 1962 | 1,617,100 | −6.5% |
| 1961 | 1,728,800 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many horses are there in France?

France had 289,788 horses in 2024, 0.52% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

France ranked 30th 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 France changed?

It fell by 29% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +2.7% for the world. The record was 1.7 million head in 1961.

### 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

[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 France

[Sugar beet](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-beet/france/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/france/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/france/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/france/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/france/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/france/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/france/)[Wine](https://husfarm.com/production/wine/france/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/france/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/france/)[Rapeseed](https://husfarm.com/production/rapeseed/france/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/france/)
[Agricultural production in France](https://husfarm.com/production/country/france/)

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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