FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Sheep in Italy
Italy had 5.4 million sheep in 2024, the 51st largest in the world (0.40% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 25%. The record was 11.6 million head in 1989.
- Animals, 2024
- 5.4 million head
- World rank
- 51 of 177
- 10-year change
- −25%
- Record
- 11.6 million head
- 1989
Sheep in Italy, 1961–2024 (head)
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,390,350 | −17% |
| 2023 | 6,497,000 | −1.1% |
| 2022 | 6,568,000 | −2.4% |
| 2021 | 6,728,350 | −4.3% |
| 2020 | 7,034,160 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 7,000,880 | −2.5% |
| 2018 | 7,179,150 | −0.5% |
| 2017 | 7,215,433 | −1.0% |
| 2016 | 7,284,874 | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 7,148,534 | −0.2% |
| 2014 | 7,166,020 | −0.2% |
| 2013 | 7,181,828 | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 7,015,729 | −11% |
| 2011 | 7,900,016 | −1.4% |
| 2010 | 8,012,600 | −2.0% |
| 2009 | 8,175,200 | −0.8% |
| 2008 | 8,237,000 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 8,227,000 | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 7,954,000 | −1.9% |
| 2005 | 8,106,000 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 7,951,640 | −2.3% |
| 2003 | 8,138,000 | −2.1% |
| 2002 | 8,311,383 | +22% |
| 2001 | 6,809,000 | −38% |
| 2000 | 11,017,000 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 10,894,000 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 10,893,711 | −0.5% |
| 1997 | 10,943,457 | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 10,667,970 | −0.1% |
| 1995 | 10,681,500 | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 10,461,000 | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 10,344,000 | −0.9% |
| 1992 | 10,434,600 | −3.8% |
| 1991 | 10,847,600 | −0.0% |
| 1990 | 10,848,000 | −6.2% |
| 1989 | 11,568,600 | +1.0% |
| 1988 | 11,456,500 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 11,450,900 | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 11,293,300 | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 11,097,900 | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 10,744,600 | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 10,660,000 | +18% |
| 1982 | 9,051,000 | −2.4% |
| 1981 | 9,277,300 | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 9,110,400 | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 8,973,300 | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 8,694,300 | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 8,445,200 | +3.6% |
| 1976 | 8,152,100 | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 7,995,100 | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 7,809,000 | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 7,770,300 | −1.0% |
| 1972 | 7,845,670 | −1.3% |
| 1971 | 7,947,630 | −2.3% |
| 1970 | 8,137,600 | −0.8% |
| 1969 | 8,206,400 | −1.0% |
| 1968 | 8,285,400 | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 8,212,000 | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 8,000,000 | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 7,866,250 | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 7,762,350 | −1.2% |
| 1963 | 7,856,800 | −2.6% |
| 1962 | 8,064,500 | −2.0% |
| 1961 | 8,230,800 | — |
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.