> Botswana had 148,744 sheep in 2024, the 125th largest in the world (0.01% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 35%.

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

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

# Sheep in Botswana

Botswana had 148,744 sheep in 2024, the 125th largest in the world (0.01% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 35%. The record was 409,000 head in 1997.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.

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

Animals, 2024148,744 head
World rank125 of 177
10-year change−35%
Record409,000 head1997

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

## Botswana compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.01%0.02% in 2014
10-year change−35%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 123 | [Czechia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/czechia/) | 180,368 | 0.01% |
| 124 | [North Korea](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/north-korea/) | 164,779 | 0.01% |
| 125 | **Botswana** | 148,744 | 0.01% |
| 126 | [Denmark](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/denmark/) | 147,980 | 0.01% |
| 127 | [Montenegro](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/montenegro/) | 144,916 | 0.01% |

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 148,744 | −15% |
| 2023 | 175,892 | −13% |
| 2022 | 201,405 | −9.5% |
| 2021 | 222,605 | −4.5% |
| 2020 | 233,078 | −4.0% |
| 2019 | 242,911 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 238,340 | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 234,621 | −2.1% |
| 2016 | 239,715 | −1.1% |
| 2015 | 242,432 | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 227,247 | −17% |
| 2013 | 274,357 | −6.7% |
| 2012 | 293,966 | −0.7% |
| 2011 | 295,894 | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 279,237 | −4.8% |
| 2009 | 293,395 | −3.2% |
| 2008 | 303,238 | +20% |
| 2007 | 252,992 | +49% |
| 2006 | 170,000 | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 165,000 | +14% |
| 2004 | 145,000 | −34% |
| 2003 | 220,000 | −19% |
| 2002 | 273,000 | −11% |
| 2001 | 306,000 | −7.3% |
| 2000 | 330,000 | −11% |
| 1999 | 369,000 | −6.1% |
| 1998 | 393,000 | −3.9% |
| 1997 | 409,000 | +17% |
| 1996 | 349,000 | +3.6% |
| 1995 | 337,000 | +42% |
| 1994 | 238,000 | −4.8% |
| 1993 | 250,100 | −17% |
| 1992 | 300,000 | −14% |
| 1991 | 349,000 | +10% |
| 1990 | 316,900 | +11% |
| 1989 | 285,700 | +10% |
| 1988 | 258,900 | +7.7% |
| 1987 | 240,300 | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 229,000 | +15% |
| 1985 | 199,700 | +19% |
| 1984 | 167,200 | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 164,700 | +18% |
| 1982 | 140,000 | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 139,700 | −5.9% |
| 1980 | 148,500 | −2.3% |
| 1979 | 152,000 | +41% |
| 1978 | 107,500 | −37% |
| 1977 | 170,000 | −29% |
| 1976 | 240,000 | −14% |
| 1975 | 280,000 | −20% |
| 1974 | 350,000 | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 328,000 | −18% |
| 1972 | 401,654 | +2.5% |
| 1971 | 391,715 | +22% |
| 1970 | 320,000 | +15% |
| 1969 | 278,830 | +21% |
| 1968 | 231,336 | +9.2% |
| 1967 | 211,764 | +40% |
| 1966 | 151,133 | +21% |
| 1965 | 125,335 | −8.4% |
| 1964 | 136,847 | +7.3% |
| 1963 | 127,500 | +14% |
| 1962 | 111,524 | +16% |
| 1961 | 96,160 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many sheep are there in Botswana?

Botswana had 148,744 sheep in 2024, 0.01% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

Botswana ranked 125th 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 Botswana changed?

It fell by 35% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 409,000 head in 1997.

### 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 Botswana 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 Botswana

[Other starchy roots and tubers](https://husfarm.com/production/other-roots-and-tubers/botswana/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/botswana/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/botswana/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/botswana/)[Sorghum](https://husfarm.com/production/sorghum/botswana/)[Game meat, fresh, chilled or frozen](https://husfarm.com/production/game-meat/botswana/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/botswana/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/botswana/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/botswana/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/botswana/)[Other pulses n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-pulses-n-e-c/botswana/)[Goat milk](https://husfarm.com/production/goat-milk/botswana/)
[Agricultural production in Botswana](https://husfarm.com/production/country/botswana/)

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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