FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Sheep in Australia
Australia had 79.3 million sheep in 2024, the 3rd largest in the world (5.82% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 9.3%. The record was 180 million head in 1970.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 79.3 million head
- World rank
- 3 of 177
- 10-year change
- +9.3%
- Record
- 180 million head
- 1970
Sheep in Australia, 1961–2024 (head)
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 79,330,000 | +10% |
| 2023 | 72,062,539 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 70,234,655 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 68,047,402 | +7.1% |
| 2020 | 63,529,366 | −3.4% |
| 2019 | 65,755,408 | −6.2% |
| 2018 | 70,067,316 | −2.9% |
| 2017 | 72,125,334 | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 67,543,092 | −4.7% |
| 2015 | 70,909,812 | −2.3% |
| 2014 | 72,612,000 | −3.9% |
| 2013 | 75,547,848 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 74,721,552 | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 73,098,760 | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 68,085,496 | −6.4% |
| 2009 | 72,739,696 | −5.5% |
| 2008 | 76,938,000 | −10% |
| 2007 | 85,711,184 | −5.8% |
| 2006 | 91,028,408 | −10.0% |
| 2005 | 101,124,888 | −0.2% |
| 2004 | 101,287,440 | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 99,252,376 | −6.5% |
| 2002 | 106,166,000 | −4.3% |
| 2001 | 110,900,000 | −6.5% |
| 2000 | 118,552,000 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 115,456,000 | −1.7% |
| 1998 | 117,491,000 | −2.3% |
| 1997 | 120,228,000 | −0.7% |
| 1996 | 121,116,064 | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 120,862,000 | −8.8% |
| 1994 | 132,569,000 | −4.0% |
| 1993 | 138,102,064 | −6.8% |
| 1992 | 148,202,896 | −9.2% |
| 1991 | 163,237,568 | −4.1% |
| 1990 | 170,296,576 | +5.4% |
| 1989 | 161,603,376 | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 152,443,152 | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 149,157,136 | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 146,776,000 | −2.0% |
| 1985 | 149,746,576 | +7.5% |
| 1984 | 139,241,584 | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 133,236,960 | −3.4% |
| 1982 | 137,976,400 | +2.7% |
| 1981 | 134,407,248 | −1.2% |
| 1980 | 135,984,960 | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 134,221,888 | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 131,445,392 | −2.9% |
| 1977 | 135,360,000 | −8.9% |
| 1976 | 148,643,008 | −2.0% |
| 1975 | 151,653,216 | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 145,175,312 | +3.7% |
| 1973 | 140,028,576 | −14% |
| 1972 | 162,910,384 | −8.4% |
| 1971 | 177,792,048 | −1.3% |
| 1970 | 180,079,584 | +3.1% |
| 1969 | 174,602,400 | +4.6% |
| 1968 | 166,912,000 | +1.6% |
| 1967 | 164,236,880 | +4.2% |
| 1966 | 157,563,168 | −7.7% |
| 1965 | 170,621,488 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 164,980,864 | +4.0% |
| 1963 | 158,626,288 | +0.6% |
| 1962 | 157,712,336 | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 152,678,576 | — |
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.