> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/horses/new-zealand/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Horses](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/)›New ZealandFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# 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, 202431,184 head
World rank76 of 143
10-year change−40%
Record100,167 head1983

## Horses in New Zealand, 1961–2024 (head)

## New Zealand compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.06%0.09% in 2014
10-year change−40%world +2.7%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 74 | [Laos](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/laos/) | 31,957 | 0.06% |
| 75 | [Cambodia](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/cambodia/) | 31,330 | 0.06% |
| 76 | **New Zealand** | 31,184 | 0.06% |
| 77 | [Gambia](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/gambia/) | 28,573 | 0.05% |
| 78 | [Zimbabwe](https://husfarm.com/production/horses/zimbabwe/) | 28,160 | 0.05% |

[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; 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

[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 New Zealand

[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/new-zealand/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/new-zealand/)[Whole milk powder](https://husfarm.com/production/whole-milk-powder/new-zealand/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/new-zealand/)[Kiwi fruit](https://husfarm.com/production/kiwi-fruit/new-zealand/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/new-zealand/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/new-zealand/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/new-zealand/)[Butter of cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/new-zealand/)[Sheep meat](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/new-zealand/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/new-zealand/)[Skim milk and whey powder](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-and-whey-powder/new-zealand/)
[Agricultural production in New Zealand](https://husfarm.com/production/country/new-zealand/)

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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