> Ireland had 3.6 million sheep in 2024, the 57th largest in the world (0.26% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 30%.

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

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

# Sheep in Ireland

Ireland had 3.6 million sheep in 2024, the 57th largest in the world (0.26% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 30%. The record was 7.6 million head in 2000.

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

Animals, 20243.6 million head
World rank57 of 177
10-year change−30%
Record7.6 million head2000

## Sheep in Ireland, 1961–2024 (head)

## Ireland compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.26%0.44% in 2014
10-year change−30%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 55 | [Guinea](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/guinea/) | 3,995,308 | 0.29% |
| 56 | [Bangladesh](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/bangladesh/) | 3,903,000 | 0.29% |
| 57 | **Ireland** | 3,591,640 | 0.26% |
| 58 | [Cameroon](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/cameroon/) | 3,551,761 | 0.26% |
| 59 | [Jordan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/jordan/) | 3,076,021 | 0.23% |

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 3,591,640 | −4.0% |
| 2023 | 3,740,910 | −6.9% |
| 2022 | 4,018,030 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 3,991,180 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 3,877,220 | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 3,809,370 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 3,798,480 | −27% |
| 2017 | 5,197,140 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 5,179,200 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 5,138,700 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 5,096,800 | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 5,007,000 | −3.2% |
| 2012 | 5,170,000 | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 4,830,000 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 4,745,400 | −0.7% |
| 2009 | 4,778,000 | −5.6% |
| 2008 | 5,061,400 | −8.3% |
| 2007 | 5,521,600 | −7.6% |
| 2006 | 5,973,200 | −6.6% |
| 2005 | 6,392,200 | −5.7% |
| 2004 | 6,777,200 | −1.0% |
| 2003 | 6,848,900 | −5.0% |
| 2002 | 7,209,600 | −1.6% |
| 2001 | 7,330,300 | −3.0% |
| 2000 | 7,555,000 | +36% |
| 1999 | 5,559,100 | −0.3% |
| 1998 | 5,577,200 | +4.4% |
| 1997 | 5,341,900 | −3.6% |
| 1996 | 5,543,400 | −3.4% |
| 1995 | 5,739,700 | −3.8% |
| 1994 | 5,966,500 | −2.3% |
| 1993 | 6,109,200 | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 5,982,600 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 5,863,700 | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 5,713,900 | +14% |
| 1989 | 4,991,200 | +16% |
| 1988 | 4,300,600 | +17% |
| 1987 | 3,671,800 | +11% |
| 1986 | 3,304,000 | +7.2% |
| 1985 | 3,081,800 | +9.5% |
| 1984 | 2,813,200 | +7.8% |
| 1983 | 2,608,500 | +6.5% |
| 1982 | 2,449,300 | +4.5% |
| 1981 | 2,343,600 | −0.7% |
| 1980 | 2,359,600 | −2.4% |
| 1979 | 2,417,800 | −4.3% |
| 1978 | 2,526,000 | −2.2% |
| 1977 | 2,581,900 | −2.7% |
| 1976 | 2,653,200 | −2.1% |
| 1975 | 2,711,200 | −4.7% |
| 1974 | 2,844,500 | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 2,834,600 | −1.0% |
| 1972 | 2,862,000 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 2,835,800 | +1.7% |
| 1970 | 2,788,200 | −2.2% |
| 1969 | 2,851,500 | −4.6% |
| 1968 | 2,990,200 | −2.2% |
| 1967 | 3,058,800 | −12% |
| 1966 | 3,464,000 | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 3,455,800 | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 3,386,500 | +1.6% |
| 1963 | 3,333,100 | −1.3% |
| 1962 | 3,375,900 | +8.7% |
| 1961 | 3,106,500 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many sheep are there in Ireland?

Ireland had 3.6 million sheep in 2024, 0.26% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

Ireland ranked 57th 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 Ireland changed?

It fell by 30% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 7.6 million head in 2000.

### 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 Ireland

[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/ireland/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/ireland/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/ireland/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/ireland/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/ireland/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/ireland/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/ireland/)[Butter of cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/ireland/)[Cheese from whole cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/ireland/)[Whey, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/whey-dry/ireland/)[Oats](https://husfarm.com/production/oats/ireland/)[Skim milk and whey powder](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-and-whey-powder/ireland/)
[Agricultural production in Ireland](https://husfarm.com/production/country/ireland/)

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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