Horses in United States
United States had 6.2 million horses in 2024, the 2nd largest in the world (11.1% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 19%. The record was 9.2 million head in 2005.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 6.2 million head
- World rank
- 2 of 143
- 10-year change
- −19%
- Record
- 9.2 million head
- 2005
Horses in United States, 1961–2024 (head)
United States compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 11.1%
- 14.1% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −19%
- world +2.7%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 6,421,075 | 11.4% |
| 2 | United States | 6,215,569 | 11.1% |
| 3 | Brazil | 5,702,612 | 10.1% |
| 4 | Mongolia | 4,683,233 | 8.3% |
Map of horses numbers by country
Share of the world total; United States is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6,215,569 | −1.8% |
| 2023 | 6,331,293 | −2.0% |
| 2022 | 6,460,341 | −2.0% |
| 2021 | 6,595,281 | −1.9% |
| 2020 | 6,726,401 | −1.8% |
| 2019 | 6,851,059 | −1.8% |
| 2018 | 6,976,673 | −2.0% |
| 2017 | 7,117,918 | −1.8% |
| 2016 | 7,247,000 | −2.9% |
| 2015 | 7,463,255 | −3.1% |
| 2014 | 7,699,622 | −2.8% |
| 2013 | 7,922,540 | −2.8% |
| 2012 | 8,148,859 | −2.7% |
| 2011 | 8,375,298 | −5.8% |
| 2010 | 8,888,898 | −1.3% |
| 2009 | 9,004,230 | −1.1% |
| 2008 | 9,106,945 | −1.0% |
| 2007 | 9,200,000 | 0.0% |
| 2006 | 9,200,000 | 0.0% |
| 2005 | 9,200,000 | +2.2% |
| 2004 | 9,000,000 | +29% |
| 2003 | 7,000,000 | +17% |
| 2002 | 6,000,000 | +9.1% |
| 2001 | 5,500,000 | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 5,240,000 | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 5,170,000 | −1.3% |
| 1998 | 5,237,000 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 5,170,000 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 5,150,000 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 5,130,000 | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 5,110,000 | −0.4% |
| 1993 | 5,130,000 | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 5,121,000 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 5,100,000 | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 5,069,000 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 5,067,000 | −0.2% |
| 1988 | 5,076,000 | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 5,048,000 | −2.0% |
| 1986 | 5,151,000 | 0.0% |
| 1985 | 5,151,000 | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 5,108,000 | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 5,079,000 | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 5,051,000 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 5,031,000 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 5,013,000 | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 4,973,000 | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 4,953,000 | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 4,743,000 | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 4,735,000 | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 4,705,000 | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 4,655,000 | +1.1% |
| 1973 | 4,605,000 | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 4,556,000 | −0.0% |
| 1971 | 4,557,000 | +10% |
| 1970 | 4,141,000 | +10% |
| 1969 | 3,758,000 | +8.1% |
| 1968 | 3,475,000 | +12% |
| 1967 | 3,105,000 | +8.5% |
| 1966 | 2,863,000 | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 2,719,000 | +81% |
| 1964 | 1,502,000 | −17% |
| 1963 | 1,819,000 | −15% |
| 1962 | 2,130,000 | −10% |
| 1961 | 2,367,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many horses are there in United States?
United States had 6.2 million horses in 2024, 11.1% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does United States rank in the world by number of horses?
United States ranked 2nd 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 United States changed?
It fell by 19% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +2.7% for the world. The record was 9.2 million head in 2005.
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 United States 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.