Sheep in Ecuador
Ecuador had 448,382 sheep in 2024, the 102nd largest in the world (0.03% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 28%. The record was 2.2 million head in 1999.
- Animals, 2024
- 448,382 head
- World rank
- 102 of 177
- 10-year change
- −28%
- Record
- 2.2 million head
- 1999
Sheep in Ecuador, 1961–2024 (head)
Ecuador compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.03%
- 0.05% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −28%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | Djibouti | 470,538 | 0.03% |
| 101 | Central African Republic | 452,132 | 0.03% |
| 102 | Ecuador | 448,382 | 0.03% |
| 103 | Malawi | 436,701 | 0.03% |
| 104 | Lebanon | 430,853 | 0.03% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Ecuador is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 448,382 | −20% |
| 2023 | 561,949 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 551,960 | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 528,828 | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 496,535 | +6.9% |
| 2019 | 464,644 | +31% |
| 2018 | 355,897 | −8.8% |
| 2017 | 390,120 | −18% |
| 2016 | 478,486 | −5.6% |
| 2015 | 506,696 | −18% |
| 2014 | 619,366 | −16% |
| 2013 | 739,475 | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 711,697 | −4.2% |
| 2011 | 742,963 | −6.3% |
| 2010 | 792,498 | −3.3% |
| 2009 | 819,559 | +10% |
| 2008 | 743,136 | −12% |
| 2007 | 846,435 | −13% |
| 2006 | 973,223 | −7.6% |
| 2005 | 1,053,129 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 1,046,737 | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 1,014,321 | −8.6% |
| 2002 | 1,109,845 | −44% |
| 2001 | 1,976,176 | +75% |
| 2000 | 1,127,468 | −49% |
| 1999 | 2,195,865 | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 2,080,999 | +15% |
| 1997 | 1,802,463 | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 1,708,920 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 1,692,000 | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 1,690,000 | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 1,631,000 | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 1,565,000 | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 1,501,000 | +5.7% |
| 1990 | 1,419,895 | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 1,329,000 | +8.4% |
| 1988 | 1,226,300 | −5.2% |
| 1987 | 1,293,000 | +8.2% |
| 1986 | 1,194,600 | −4.7% |
| 1985 | 1,253,500 | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 1,162,900 | +14% |
| 1983 | 1,022,900 | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 1,013,800 | −19% |
| 1981 | 1,258,000 | +15% |
| 1980 | 1,096,836 | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 1,089,706 | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 1,077,564 | +0.6% |
| 1977 | 1,071,563 | −31% |
| 1976 | 1,542,000 | −25% |
| 1975 | 2,054,700 | −0.3% |
| 1974 | 2,060,000 | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 2,020,000 | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 1,980,000 | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 1,940,000 | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 1,895,000 | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 1,855,000 | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 1,811,433 | +1.8% |
| 1967 | 1,780,000 | +1.8% |
| 1966 | 1,749,000 | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 1,718,041 | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 1,680,947 | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 1,644,122 | −6.0% |
| 1962 | 1,749,000 | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 1,703,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Ecuador?
Ecuador had 448,382 sheep in 2024, 0.03% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Ecuador rank in the world by number of sheep?
Ecuador ranked 102nd 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 Ecuador changed?
It fell by 28% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 2.2 million head in 1999.
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.