Sheep in Eswatini
Eswatini had 18,522 sheep in 2024, the 146th largest in the world (0.00% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 8.7%. The record was 43,201 head in 1963.
- Animals, 2024
- 18,522 head
- World rank
- 146 of 177
- 10-year change
- +8.7%
- Record
- 43,201 head
- 1963
Sheep in Eswatini, 1961–2024 (head)
Eswatini compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.00%
- 0.00% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +8.7%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | Comoros | 26,249 | 0.00% |
| 145 | Cabo Verde | 19,701 | 0.00% |
| 146 | Eswatini | 18,522 | 0.00% |
| 147 | Sri Lanka | 17,820 | 0.00% |
| 148 | Honduras | 16,971 | 0.00% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Eswatini is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18,522 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 18,233 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 18,103 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 17,995 | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 17,116 | −0.9% |
| 2019 | 17,264 | +7.2% |
| 2018 | 16,103 | −1.0% |
| 2017 | 16,264 | −3.4% |
| 2016 | 16,841 | +13% |
| 2015 | 14,969 | −12% |
| 2014 | 17,034 | −2.2% |
| 2013 | 17,414 | −2.3% |
| 2012 | 17,825 | −2.4% |
| 2011 | 18,261 | −2.4% |
| 2010 | 18,715 | −2.4% |
| 2009 | 19,178 | −7.0% |
| 2008 | 20,631 | −2.7% |
| 2007 | 21,206 | −9.8% |
| 2006 | 23,503 | −1.2% |
| 2005 | 23,778 | −1.0% |
| 2004 | 24,025 | −0.9% |
| 2003 | 24,237 | −0.7% |
| 2002 | 24,408 | −0.5% |
| 2001 | 24,534 | −9.1% |
| 2000 | 27,000 | +21% |
| 1999 | 22,370 | −1.7% |
| 1998 | 22,752 | −3.1% |
| 1997 | 23,482 | −11% |
| 1996 | 26,500 | +9.1% |
| 1995 | 24,282 | −10% |
| 1994 | 27,000 | −0.3% |
| 1993 | 27,093 | −2.4% |
| 1992 | 27,756 | +17% |
| 1991 | 23,782 | −2.7% |
| 1990 | 24,431 | −1.5% |
| 1989 | 24,803 | −6.3% |
| 1988 | 26,464 | −4.7% |
| 1987 | 27,777 | −0.9% |
| 1986 | 28,034 | −5.2% |
| 1985 | 29,585 | −16% |
| 1984 | 35,125 | −8.9% |
| 1983 | 38,550 | −4.0% |
| 1982 | 40,138 | +22% |
| 1981 | 32,924 | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 32,274 | +8.5% |
| 1979 | 29,750 | −22% |
| 1978 | 38,012 | +23% |
| 1977 | 30,952 | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 30,817 | −11% |
| 1975 | 34,628 | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 32,885 | −14% |
| 1973 | 38,184 | +2.5% |
| 1972 | 37,247 | −14% |
| 1971 | 43,089 | +8.4% |
| 1970 | 39,749 | +7.3% |
| 1969 | 37,032 | −8.8% |
| 1968 | 40,592 | +13% |
| 1967 | 35,778 | −0.5% |
| 1966 | 35,958 | −4.0% |
| 1965 | 37,472 | −7.3% |
| 1964 | 40,409 | −6.5% |
| 1963 | 43,201 | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 42,775 | +13% |
| 1961 | 37,764 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Eswatini?
Eswatini had 18,522 sheep in 2024, 0.00% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Eswatini rank in the world by number of sheep?
Eswatini ranked 146th 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 Eswatini changed?
It rose by 8.7% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 43,201 head in 1963.
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.