> France had 6.6 million sheep in 2024, the 46th largest in the world (0.48% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.0%.

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

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# Sheep in France

France had 6.6 million sheep in 2024, the 46th largest in the world (0.48% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.0%. The record was 13.5 million head in 1982.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/lamb/)[Market prices in France](https://husfarm.com/country/france/)

Animals, 20246.6 million head
World rank46 of 177
10-year change−8.0%
Record13.5 million head1982

## Sheep in France, 1961–2024 (head)

## France compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.48%0.62% in 2014
10-year change−8.0%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 44 | [Azerbaijan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/azerbaijan/) | 7,041,901 | 0.52% |
| 45 | [Iraq](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/iraq/) | 6,672,540 | 0.49% |
| 46 | **France** | 6,607,000 | 0.48% |
| 47 | [Ghana](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/ghana/) | 6,176,664 | 0.45% |
| 48 | [Tunisia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/tunisia/) | 6,094,960 | 0.45% |

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 6,607,000 | −2.9% |
| 2023 | 6,802,000 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 6,746,000 | −3.6% |
| 2021 | 6,994,630 | −0.1% |
| 2020 | 6,998,710 | −1.5% |
| 2019 | 7,105,000 | −0.9% |
| 2018 | 7,166,000 | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 6,901,456 | −2.1% |
| 2016 | 7,045,970 | −0.3% |
| 2015 | 7,064,541 | −1.6% |
| 2014 | 7,181,130 | −0.8% |
| 2013 | 7,239,057 | −3.0% |
| 2012 | 7,461,934 | −2.6% |
| 2011 | 7,658,771 | −3.8% |
| 2010 | 7,962,418 | −1.6% |
| 2009 | 8,093,182 | −1.2% |
| 2008 | 8,189,215 | −3.4% |
| 2007 | 8,475,573 | −4.8% |
| 2006 | 8,905,186 | −2.1% |
| 2005 | 9,094,005 | −0.9% |
| 2004 | 9,178,090 | −1.2% |
| 2003 | 9,287,212 | −0.5% |
| 2002 | 9,335,856 | −1.1% |
| 2001 | 9,437,367 | −1.5% |
| 2000 | 9,577,612 | −1.5% |
| 1999 | 9,723,998 | −1.4% |
| 1998 | 9,865,622 | −1.1% |
| 1997 | 9,976,022 | −1.8% |
| 1996 | 10,163,188 | −1.2% |
| 1995 | 10,286,651 | −1.1% |
| 1994 | 10,400,600 | −0.8% |
| 1993 | 10,481,291 | −2.4% |
| 1992 | 10,737,574 | −2.6% |
| 1991 | 11,022,434 | −1.7% |
| 1990 | 11,208,800 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 11,208,000 | −2.5% |
| 1988 | 11,495,000 | −4.6% |
| 1987 | 12,044,045 | −3.1% |
| 1986 | 12,432,458 | −1.9% |
| 1985 | 12,676,000 | −2.8% |
| 1984 | 13,035,000 | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 12,926,000 | −4.4% |
| 1982 | 13,525,000 | +5.3% |
| 1981 | 12,846,000 | +7.8% |
| 1980 | 11,911,044 | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 11,641,500 | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 11,415,000 | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 11,046,000 | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 10,803,000 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 10,568,000 | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 10,375,000 | −0.6% |
| 1973 | 10,442,000 | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 10,114,600 | −1.2% |
| 1971 | 10,238,800 | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 10,036,700 | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 9,794,100 | +3.0% |
| 1968 | 9,509,600 | +3.5% |
| 1967 | 9,185,600 | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 9,055,900 | +2.7% |
| 1965 | 8,820,700 | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 8,626,000 | −3.6% |
| 1963 | 8,944,900 | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 8,924,000 | −1.5% |
| 1961 | 9,063,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many sheep are there in France?

France had 6.6 million sheep in 2024, 0.48% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

France ranked 46th 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 France changed?

It fell by 8.0% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 13.5 million head in 1982.

### 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

[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 France

[Sugar beet](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-beet/france/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/france/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/france/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/france/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/france/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/france/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/france/)[Wine](https://husfarm.com/production/wine/france/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/france/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/france/)[Rapeseed](https://husfarm.com/production/rapeseed/france/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/france/)
[Agricultural production in France](https://husfarm.com/production/country/france/)

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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