Sheep in Malawi
Malawi had 436,701 sheep in 2024, the 103rd largest in the world (0.03% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 62%. This is the highest figure on record.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 436,701 head
- World rank
- 103 of 177
- 10-year change
- +62%
- Record
- 436,701 head
- 2024
Sheep in Malawi, 1961–2024 (head)
Malawi compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.03%
- 0.02% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +62%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Central African Republic | 452,132 | 0.03% |
| 102 | Ecuador | 448,382 | 0.03% |
| 103 | Malawi | 436,701 | 0.03% |
| 104 | Lebanon | 430,853 | 0.03% |
| 105 | Moldova | 423,608 | 0.03% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Malawi is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 436,701 | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 427,754 | +5.6% |
| 2022 | 404,956 | +8.4% |
| 2021 | 373,715 | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 366,184 | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 351,458 | +11% |
| 2018 | 317,899 | +12% |
| 2017 | 283,398 | −1.2% |
| 2016 | 286,974 | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 275,537 | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 269,230 | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 255,928 | +6.5% |
| 2012 | 240,269 | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 228,649 | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 214,230 | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 199,890 | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 188,520 | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 185,609 | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 175,394 | +12% |
| 2005 | 156,714 | −31% |
| 2004 | 227,363 | +110% |
| 2003 | 108,179 | −1.2% |
| 2002 | 109,514 | −5.0% |
| 2001 | 115,247 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 111,539 | +8.2% |
| 1999 | 103,095 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 102,671 | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 97,916 | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 93,018 | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 86,827 | −5.5% |
| 1994 | 91,915 | +9.1% |
| 1993 | 84,260 | −16% |
| 1992 | 100,133 | −1.6% |
| 1991 | 101,796 | +20% |
| 1990 | 85,167 | −23% |
| 1989 | 110,000 | −27% |
| 1988 | 150,000 | −0.9% |
| 1987 | 151,300 | −8.6% |
| 1986 | 165,483 | −10% |
| 1985 | 184,711 | +23% |
| 1984 | 149,854 | −3.7% |
| 1983 | 155,607 | +41% |
| 1982 | 110,546 | +30% |
| 1981 | 85,043 | −4.4% |
| 1980 | 88,929 | +13% |
| 1979 | 78,747 | −8.8% |
| 1978 | 86,368 | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 85,194 | −3.0% |
| 1976 | 87,821 | +11% |
| 1975 | 79,185 | −0.0% |
| 1974 | 79,202 | −11% |
| 1973 | 88,516 | +11% |
| 1972 | 79,518 | +8.6% |
| 1971 | 73,210 | −9.8% |
| 1970 | 81,136 | −10% |
| 1969 | 90,280 | +11% |
| 1968 | 81,277 | −8.5% |
| 1967 | 88,820 | +25% |
| 1966 | 71,337 | 0.0% |
| 1965 | 71,337 | −3.8% |
| 1964 | 74,139 | −9.5% |
| 1963 | 81,918 | +5.4% |
| 1962 | 77,757 | −5.4% |
| 1961 | 82,223 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Malawi?
Malawi had 436,701 sheep in 2024, 0.03% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Malawi rank in the world by number of sheep?
Malawi ranked 103rd 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 Malawi changed?
It rose by 62% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
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 Malawi is imputed by FAO. 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.