> Iran had 53.8 million sheep in 2024, the 4th largest in the world (3.95% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 71%.

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

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

# Sheep in Iran

Iran had 53.8 million sheep in 2024, the 4th largest in the world (3.95% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 71%. The record was 55.6 million head in 2022.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.

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

Animals, 202453.8 million head
World rank4 of 177
10-year change+71%
Record55.6 million head2022

## Sheep in Iran, 1961–2024 (head)

## Iran compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total3.9%2.7% in 2014
10-year change+71%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2 | [India](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/india/) | 114,623,765 | 8.4% |
| 3 | [Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/australia/) | 79,330,000 | 5.8% |
| 4 | **Iran** | 53,820,779 | 3.9% |
| 5 | [Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/nigeria/) | 52,136,324 | 3.8% |
| 6 | [Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/chad/) | 45,168,961 | 3.3% |

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 53,820,779 | −2.5% |
| 2023 | 55,202,107 | −0.7% |
| 2022 | 55,582,000 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 53,868,000 | +16% |
| 2020 | 46,587,010 | +13% |
| 2019 | 41,303,611 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 39,998,423 | −0.1% |
| 2017 | 40,029,687 | −8.5% |
| 2016 | 43,757,013 | −2.2% |
| 2015 | 44,731,757 | +42% |
| 2014 | 31,420,569 | −31% |
| 2013 | 45,430,000 | −1.7% |
| 2012 | 46,212,000 | −1.0% |
| 2011 | 46,679,000 | −1.9% |
| 2010 | 47,591,000 | −1.1% |
| 2009 | 48,133,000 | −3.7% |
| 2008 | 49,975,000 | −4.4% |
| 2007 | 52,271,000 | 0.0% |
| 2006 | 52,271,000 | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 52,219,000 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 52,115,000 | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 51,959,000 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 51,701,000 | −4.1% |
| 2001 | 53,900,100 | 0.0% |
| 2000 | 53,900,100 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 53,900,000 | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 53,245,000 | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 52,117,000 | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 51,499,000 | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 50,889,000 | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 50,285,000 | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 49,689,000 | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 49,100,000 | +9.9% |
| 1991 | 44,681,392 | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 44,581,392 | −0.9% |
| 1989 | 45,000,000 | +11% |
| 1988 | 40,665,008 | −0.8% |
| 1987 | 41,000,000 | −4.0% |
| 1986 | 42,694,624 | +6.7% |
| 1985 | 40,000,000 | +5.3% |
| 1984 | 38,000,000 | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 36,000,000 | +4.0% |
| 1982 | 34,604,496 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 34,500,000 | 0.0% |
| 1980 | 34,500,000 | −2.0% |
| 1979 | 35,219,000 | −2.0% |
| 1978 | 35,952,000 | +13% |
| 1977 | 31,872,000 | +6.2% |
| 1976 | 30,000,000 | +6.8% |
| 1975 | 28,085,536 | −2.4% |
| 1974 | 28,771,008 | +3.4% |
| 1973 | 27,819,008 | −2.4% |
| 1972 | 28,500,000 | −1.7% |
| 1971 | 29,000,000 | −1.7% |
| 1970 | 29,500,000 | −1.7% |
| 1969 | 30,000,000 | −3.6% |
| 1968 | 31,130,000 | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 30,467,008 | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 28,990,000 | −3.4% |
| 1965 | 30,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1964 | 30,000,000 | +1.7% |
| 1963 | 29,500,000 | −4.0% |
| 1962 | 30,720,000 | −3.5% |
| 1961 | 31,832,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many sheep are there in Iran?

Iran had 53.8 million sheep in 2024, 3.9% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

Iran ranked 4th 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 Iran changed?

It rose by 71% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 55.6 million head in 2022.

### 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 Iran 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/)[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/)[Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/kenya/)
[All countries producing sheep](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/)

## Other products of Iran

[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/iran/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/iran/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/iran/)[Sugar beet](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-beet/iran/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/iran/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/iran/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/iran/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/iran/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/iran/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/iran/)[Other fruits, n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-fruits/iran/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/iran/)
[Agricultural production in Iran](https://husfarm.com/production/country/iran/)

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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