> Afghanistan had 12.5 million sheep in 2024, the 30th largest in the world (0.91% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 7.7%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/afghanistan/

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# Sheep in Afghanistan

Afghanistan had 12.5 million sheep in 2024, the 30th largest in the world (0.91% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 7.7%. The record was 21.5 million head in 1970.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.

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

Animals, 202412.5 million head
World rank30 of 177
10-year change−7.7%
Record21.5 million head1970

## Sheep in Afghanistan, 1961–2024 (head)

## Afghanistan compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.91%1.2% in 2014
10-year change−7.7%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 28 | [Turkmenistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/turkmenistan/) | 14,270,745 | 1.0% |
| 29 | [Spain](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/spain/) | 13,476,030 | 0.99% |
| 30 | **Afghanistan** | 12,450,000 | 0.91% |
| 31 | [Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/argentina/) | 12,440,906 | 0.91% |
| 32 | [Burkina Faso](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/burkina-faso/) | 11,543,571 | 0.85% |

[Full ranking of 177 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/)

### Map of sheep numbers by country

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 12,450,000 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 12,159,580 | −2.7% |
| 2022 | 12,500,000 | −1.6% |
| 2021 | 12,700,000 | −0.8% |
| 2020 | 12,808,421 | −1.5% |
| 2019 | 13,000,000 | −3.3% |
| 2018 | 13,449,733 | −3.0% |
| 2017 | 13,866,000 | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 13,265,200 | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 13,218,000 | −2.0% |
| 2014 | 13,485,000 | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 13,141,000 | −4.9% |
| 2012 | 13,820,000 | −3.1% |
| 2011 | 14,262,000 | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 13,286,000 | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 12,287,000 | +15% |
| 2008 | 10,710,000 | +32% |
| 2007 | 8,105,000 | −12% |
| 2006 | 9,259,000 | −14% |
| 2005 | 10,773,000 | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 10,136,000 | +12% |
| 2003 | 9,074,000 | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 8,773,000 | −37% |
| 2001 | 13,955,000 | −7.0% |
| 2000 | 15,000,000 | −15% |
| 1999 | 17,690,422 | +8.9% |
| 1998 | 16,251,608 | +7.6% |
| 1997 | 15,110,000 | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 13,965,000 | +11% |
| 1995 | 12,568,186 | −3.3% |
| 1994 | 13,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1993 | 13,000,000 | −3.7% |
| 1992 | 13,500,000 | −4.9% |
| 1991 | 14,200,000 | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 14,170,000 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 14,150,000 | 0.0% |
| 1988 | 14,150,000 | +18% |
| 1987 | 12,000,000 | +14% |
| 1986 | 10,500,000 | −23% |
| 1985 | 13,600,000 | −8.7% |
| 1984 | 14,900,000 | −12% |
| 1983 | 16,900,000 | −11% |
| 1982 | 18,900,000 | 0.0% |
| 1981 | 18,900,000 | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 18,700,000 | +1.6% |
| 1979 | 18,400,000 | −3.5% |
| 1978 | 19,075,008 | −5.8% |
| 1977 | 20,244,000 | −4.5% |
| 1976 | 21,200,000 | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 20,417,008 | +13% |
| 1974 | 18,000,000 | +13% |
| 1973 | 16,000,000 | +25% |
| 1972 | 12,840,000 | −40% |
| 1971 | 21,400,000 | −0.5% |
| 1970 | 21,500,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 21,490,000 | +0.2% |
| 1968 | 21,455,008 | +4.2% |
| 1967 | 20,600,000 | 0.0% |
| 1966 | 20,600,000 | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 19,600,000 | +3.2% |
| 1964 | 19,000,000 | +2.7% |
| 1963 | 18,500,000 | +1.9% |
| 1962 | 18,150,000 | +0.8% |
| 1961 | 18,000,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many sheep are there in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan had 12.5 million sheep in 2024, 0.91% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does Afghanistan rank in the world by number of sheep?

Afghanistan ranked 30th of 177 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in China with 13.4% of the world total.

### How has the number of sheep in Afghanistan changed?

It fell by 7.7% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 21.5 million head in 1970.

### 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 Afghanistan is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/china/)[India](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/india/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/australia/)[Iran](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/iran/)[Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/nigeria/)[Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/chad/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/turkey/)[Ethiopia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/ethiopia/)[Sudan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/sudan/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/pakistan/)[Algeria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/algeria/)[United Kingdom](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/united-kingdom/)
[All countries producing sheep](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/)

## Other products of Afghanistan

[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/afghanistan/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/afghanistan/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/afghanistan/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/afghanistan/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/afghanistan/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/afghanistan/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/afghanistan/)[Melons](https://husfarm.com/production/melons/afghanistan/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/afghanistan/)[Onions, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/onions/afghanistan/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/afghanistan/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/afghanistan/)
[Agricultural production in Afghanistan](https://husfarm.com/production/country/afghanistan/)

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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