> In 2024 Australia produced 927,230 t of sheep meat, the 3rd largest in the world (8.03% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 29%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/australia/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Sheep meat](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/)›AustraliaFAOSTAT · 1961–2024

# Sheep meat production in Australia

In 2024 Australia produced 927,230 t of sheep meat, the 3rd largest in the world (8.03% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 29%. The record was 956,328 t in 1972.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/lamb/)

Production, 2024927,230 t
World rank3 of 175
10-year change+29%
Record956,328 t1972

## Sheep meat in Australia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## Australia compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total8.0%7.7% in 2014
kg per person34.7world 1.41
10-year change+29%world +23%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [China](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/china/) | 2,640,525 | 22.9% |
| 2 | [India](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/india/) | 1,292,048 | 11.2% |
| 3 | **Australia** | 927,230 | 8.0% |
| 4 | [Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/turkey/) | 509,539 | 4.4% |
| 5 | [New Zealand](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/new-zealand/) | 449,606 | 3.9% |

[Full ranking of 175 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/)

### Map of world production of sheep meat

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; Australia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 927,230 | +9.5% |
| 2023 | 846,568 | +19% |
| 2022 | 709,932 | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 662,973 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 657,790 | −10% |
| 2019 | 731,281 | −0.7% |
| 2018 | 736,557 | +10.0% |
| 2017 | 669,604 | −6.0% |
| 2016 | 712,525 | −1.2% |
| 2015 | 721,053 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 720,600 | +9.1% |
| 2013 | 660,437 | +19% |
| 2012 | 554,434 | +7.3% |
| 2011 | 516,608 | −7.0% |
| 2010 | 555,206 | −13% |
| 2009 | 635,110 | −3.7% |
| 2008 | 659,512 | −3.5% |
| 2007 | 683,573 | +9.3% |
| 2006 | 625,629 | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 595,185 | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 561,000 | −6.0% |
| 2003 | 597,000 | −7.3% |
| 2002 | 644,000 | −9.9% |
| 2001 | 715,000 | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 680,000 | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 628,375 | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 616,189 | +8.8% |
| 1997 | 566,431 | −1.4% |
| 1996 | 574,298 | −7.6% |
| 1995 | 621,558 | −4.0% |
| 1994 | 647,520 | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 643,377 | −3.5% |
| 1992 | 666,891 | −0.3% |
| 1991 | 668,883 | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 627,798 | +16% |
| 1989 | 543,423 | −7.3% |
| 1988 | 586,081 | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 584,119 | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 578,258 | +12% |
| 1985 | 515,492 | +11% |
| 1984 | 464,866 | −12% |
| 1983 | 530,217 | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 510,916 | −12% |
| 1981 | 578,200 | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 548,500 | +12% |
| 1979 | 491,400 | −4.3% |
| 1978 | 513,620 | −6.5% |
| 1977 | 549,261 | −6.5% |
| 1976 | 587,720 | +11% |
| 1975 | 527,148 | +13% |
| 1974 | 467,472 | −34% |
| 1973 | 713,395 | −25% |
| 1972 | 956,328 | +16% |
| 1971 | 825,236 | +9.3% |
| 1970 | 754,925 | +11% |
| 1969 | 679,737 | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 664,497 | +11% |
| 1967 | 596,421 | −2.0% |
| 1966 | 608,439 | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 594,223 | −0.2% |
| 1964 | 595,127 | −1.3% |
| 1963 | 602,984 | +1.1% |
| 1962 | 596,276 | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 583,525 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports653,395 t USD 3.42 bn
Exporter rank1 of 82
Imports937 t USD 4.1 m
Importer rank62 of 178
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. [World exporters and importers](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of sheep meat in Australia?

Australia produced 927,230 t in 2024, 8.0% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does Australia rank in the world for production of sheep meat?

Australia ranked 3rd of 175 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 22.9% of the world total.

### How has the production of sheep meat in Australia changed?

It rose by 29% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +23% for the world. The record was 956,328 t in 1972.

### Does Australia export or import meat of sheep, fresh or chilled?

In 2024 Australia reported exports of 653,395 t (USD 3.42 bn) and imports of 937 t (USD 4.1 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.

### 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

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/china/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/india/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/turkey/)[New Zealand](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/new-zealand/)[Algeria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/algeria/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/sudan/)[Uzbekistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/uzbekistan/)[United Kingdom](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/united-kingdom/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/chad/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/pakistan/)[Iran](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/iran/)[Syria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/syria/)
[All countries producing sheep meat](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/)

## Other products of Australia

[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/australia/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/australia/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/australia/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/australia/)[Rapeseed](https://husfarm.com/production/rapeseed/australia/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/australia/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/australia/)[Sorghum](https://husfarm.com/production/sorghum/australia/)[Seed cotton](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/australia/)[Chick peas, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/chick-peas/australia/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/australia/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/australia/)
[Agricultural production in Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/country/australia/)

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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