Sheep in Bulgaria
Bulgaria had 1.0 million sheep in 2024, the 78th largest in the world (0.07% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 26%. The record was 11.0 million head in 1984.
- Animals, 2024
- 1.0 million head
- World rank
- 78 of 177
- 10-year change
- −26%
- Record
- 11.0 million head
- 1984
Sheep in Bulgaria, 1961–2024 (head)
Bulgaria compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.07%
- 0.12% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −26%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Angola | 1,140,494 | 0.08% |
| 77 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1,098,899 | 0.08% |
| 78 | Bulgaria | 1,016,700 | 0.07% |
| 79 | Sierra Leone | 934,780 | 0.07% |
| 80 | Madagascar | 925,907 | 0.07% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Bulgaria is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,016,700 | −5.2% |
| 2023 | 1,072,770 | −2.2% |
| 2022 | 1,096,400 | −8.6% |
| 2021 | 1,199,550 | −8.3% |
| 2020 | 1,307,770 | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 1,280,980 | −5.1% |
| 2018 | 1,350,030 | −0.7% |
| 2017 | 1,360,087 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 1,331,894 | −0.3% |
| 2015 | 1,335,283 | −2.5% |
| 2014 | 1,369,578 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 1,361,545 | −6.4% |
| 2012 | 1,454,617 | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 1,367,987 | −2.3% |
| 2010 | 1,400,252 | −5.1% |
| 2009 | 1,474,845 | −3.4% |
| 2008 | 1,526,392 | −6.7% |
| 2007 | 1,635,410 | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 1,602,255 | −5.3% |
| 2005 | 1,692,507 | +5.9% |
| 2004 | 1,598,556 | −7.5% |
| 2003 | 1,728,358 | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 1,571,410 | −31% |
| 2001 | 2,286,400 | −10% |
| 2000 | 2,548,884 | −8.1% |
| 1999 | 2,773,702 | −2.6% |
| 1998 | 2,847,529 | −5.7% |
| 1997 | 3,019,600 | −11% |
| 1996 | 3,383,034 | −0.4% |
| 1995 | 3,397,610 | −9.7% |
| 1994 | 3,763,210 | −22% |
| 1993 | 4,814,300 | −28% |
| 1992 | 6,703,372 | −16% |
| 1991 | 7,938,056 | −2.4% |
| 1990 | 8,130,305 | −5.6% |
| 1989 | 8,608,988 | −3.1% |
| 1988 | 8,885,863 | −7.1% |
| 1987 | 9,563,298 | −1.6% |
| 1986 | 9,723,731 | −7.4% |
| 1985 | 10,500,658 | −4.4% |
| 1984 | 10,978,289 | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 10,761,395 | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 10,725,518 | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 10,432,646 | −1.0% |
| 1980 | 10,535,673 | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 10,104,847 | −0.4% |
| 1978 | 10,143,511 | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 9,723,475 | −2.9% |
| 1976 | 10,014,027 | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 9,791,336 | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 9,765,454 | −1.6% |
| 1973 | 9,920,943 | −2.0% |
| 1972 | 10,127,007 | +4.6% |
| 1971 | 9,677,998 | +4.9% |
| 1970 | 9,223,079 | −4.4% |
| 1969 | 9,651,912 | −2.6% |
| 1968 | 9,904,864 | −0.9% |
| 1967 | 9,997,905 | −3.0% |
| 1966 | 10,312,347 | −1.2% |
| 1965 | 10,440,291 | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 10,307,555 | +2.0% |
| 1963 | 10,106,558 | −0.5% |
| 1962 | 10,161,204 | +8.9% |
| 1961 | 9,332,583 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Bulgaria?
Bulgaria had 1.0 million sheep in 2024, 0.07% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Bulgaria rank in the world by number of sheep?
Bulgaria ranked 78th 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 Bulgaria changed?
It fell by 26% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 11.0 million head in 1984.
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
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.