Horses in New Zealand
New Zealand had 31,184 horses in 2024, the 76th largest in the world (0.06% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 40%. The record was 100,167 head in 1983.
- Animals, 2024
- 31,184 head
- World rank
- 76 of 143
- 10-year change
- −40%
- Record
- 100,167 head
- 1983
Horses in New Zealand, 1961–2024 (head)
New Zealand compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.06%
- 0.09% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −40%
- world +2.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | Laos | 31,957 | 0.06% |
| 75 | Cambodia | 31,330 | 0.06% |
| 76 | New Zealand | 31,184 | 0.06% |
| 77 | Gambia | 28,573 | 0.05% |
| 78 | Zimbabwe | 28,160 | 0.05% |
Map of horses numbers by country
Share of the world total; New Zealand is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31,184 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 31,184 | −7.0% |
| 2022 | 33,531 | −17% |
| 2021 | 40,276 | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 38,647 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 38,445 | −5.1% |
| 2018 | 40,525 | −7.2% |
| 2017 | 43,684 | −10% |
| 2016 | 48,801 | +19% |
| 2015 | 40,935 | −21% |
| 2014 | 51,611 | −10% |
| 2013 | 57,427 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 56,878 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 56,505 | −12% |
| 2010 | 64,105 | −1.6% |
| 2009 | 65,149 | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 62,511 | −5.6% |
| 2007 | 66,215 | −2.6% |
| 2006 | 68,000 | −5.6% |
| 2005 | 72,000 | −6.4% |
| 2004 | 76,918 | −4.3% |
| 2003 | 80,397 | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 75,856 | −0.8% |
| 2001 | 76,500 | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 73,000 | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 70,000 | −6.7% |
| 1998 | 75,000 | 0.0% |
| 1997 | 75,000 | +11% |
| 1996 | 67,700 | −1.3% |
| 1995 | 68,600 | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 67,800 | −22% |
| 1993 | 87,206 | −0.8% |
| 1992 | 87,951 | −3.4% |
| 1991 | 91,000 | −3.2% |
| 1990 | 93,980 | −4.2% |
| 1989 | 98,120 | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 96,671 | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 94,292 | −5.7% |
| 1986 | 100,000 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 99,365 | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 94,595 | −5.6% |
| 1983 | 100,167 | +11% |
| 1982 | 90,000 | +13% |
| 1981 | 80,000 | +14% |
| 1980 | 69,939 | +9.9% |
| 1979 | 63,631 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 62,132 | −5.9% |
| 1977 | 66,000 | 0.0% |
| 1976 | 66,000 | 0.0% |
| 1975 | 66,000 | −0.5% |
| 1974 | 66,340 | −5.2% |
| 1973 | 70,000 | −5.4% |
| 1972 | 74,000 | 0.0% |
| 1971 | 74,000 | −2.1% |
| 1970 | 75,561 | −0.6% |
| 1969 | 76,000 | −4.4% |
| 1968 | 79,500 | −0.6% |
| 1967 | 80,000 | −3.6% |
| 1966 | 83,000 | −4.4% |
| 1965 | 86,783 | +8.5% |
| 1964 | 80,000 | +6.7% |
| 1963 | 75,000 | 0.0% |
| 1962 | 75,000 | +7.1% |
| 1961 | 70,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many horses are there in New Zealand?
New Zealand had 31,184 horses in 2024, 0.06% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does New Zealand rank in the world by number of horses?
New Zealand ranked 76th 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 New Zealand changed?
It fell by 40% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +2.7% for the world. The record was 100,167 head in 1983.
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.