> In 2024 China produced 2.6 million t of sheep meat, the largest total in the world (22.9% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 21%.

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

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# Sheep meat production in China

In 2024 China produced 2.6 million t of sheep meat, the largest total in the world (22.9% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 21%. The record was 2.7 million t in 2023.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/lamb/)[Market prices in China](https://husfarm.com/country/china/)

Production, 20242.6 million t
World rank1 of 175
10-year change+21%
Record2.7 million t2023

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

## China compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total22.9%23.3% in 2014
kg per person1.86world 1.41
10-year change+21%world +23%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **China** | 2,640,525 | 22.9% |
| 2 | [India](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/india/) | 1,292,048 | 11.2% |
| 3 | [Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/australia/) | 927,230 | 8.0% |

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

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 2,640,525 | −2.5% |
| 2023 | 2,709,426 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 2,675,103 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 2,621,800 | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 2,510,800 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 2,486,400 | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 2,422,857 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 2,402,457 | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 2,347,275 | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 2,243,643 | +2.9% |
| 2014 | 2,180,913 | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 2,090,490 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 2,062,950 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 2,029,596 | −2.0% |
| 2010 | 2,070,702 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 2,037,093 | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 2,005,524 | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 1,966,968 | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 1,875,423 | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 1,785,306 | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 1,697,790 | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 1,574,370 | +8.9% |
| 2002 | 1,445,850 | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 1,386,180 | +2.9% |
| 2000 | 1,347,063 | +5.1% |
| 1999 | 1,281,630 | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 1,239,000 | +4.1% |
| 1997 | 1,190,000 | +19% |
| 1996 | 1,000,000 | +11% |
| 1995 | 900,000 | +15% |
| 1994 | 780,000 | +9.2% |
| 1993 | 714,000 | +9.8% |
| 1992 | 650,000 | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 614,000 | +12% |
| 1990 | 548,000 | +12% |
| 1989 | 490,000 | +19% |
| 1988 | 412,000 | +18% |
| 1987 | 350,000 | +8.7% |
| 1986 | 322,000 | +7.3% |
| 1985 | 300,000 | 0.0% |
| 1984 | 300,000 | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 287,000 | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 275,000 | +7.8% |
| 1981 | 255,000 | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 250,000 | +21% |
| 1979 | 206,000 | +18% |
| 1978 | 175,000 | +6.1% |
| 1977 | 165,000 | +6.5% |
| 1976 | 155,000 | −2.5% |
| 1975 | 159,000 | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 150,000 | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 145,000 | +7.4% |
| 1972 | 135,000 | +8.0% |
| 1971 | 125,000 | +8.7% |
| 1970 | 115,000 | +2.7% |
| 1969 | 112,000 | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 110,000 | +4.8% |
| 1967 | 105,000 | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 100,000 | +18% |
| 1965 | 85,000 | +13% |
| 1964 | 75,000 | +15% |
| 1963 | 65,000 | +18% |
| 1962 | 55,000 | 0.0% |
| 1961 | 55,000 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports1,588 t USD 16.6 m
Exporter rank29 of 82
Imports361,490 t USD 1.17 bn
Importer rank1 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 China?

China produced 2.6 million t in 2024, 22.9% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

China was the world’s largest producer in 2024, ahead of India.

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

It rose by 21% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +23% for the world. The record was 2.7 million t in 2023.

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

In 2024 China reported exports of 1,588 t (USD 16.6 m) and imports of 361,490 t (USD 1.17 bn), 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; the 2024 figure for China is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[India](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/india/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/australia/)[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 China

[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/china/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/china/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/china/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/china/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/china/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/china/)[Cucumbers](https://husfarm.com/production/cucumbers/china/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/china/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/china/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/china/)[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/china/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/china/)
[Agricultural production in China](https://husfarm.com/production/country/china/)

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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