> 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%.

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

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

# 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.

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

Animals, 2024436,701 head
World rank103 of 177
10-year change+62%
Record436,701 head2024

## Sheep in Malawi, 1961–2024 (head)

## Malawi compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.03%0.02% in 2014
10-year change+62%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 101 | [Central African Republic](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/central-african-republic/) | 452,132 | 0.03% |
| 102 | [Ecuador](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/ecuador/) | 448,382 | 0.03% |
| 103 | **Malawi** | 436,701 | 0.03% |
| 104 | [Lebanon](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/lebanon/) | 430,853 | 0.03% |
| 105 | [Moldova](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/moldova/) | 423,608 | 0.03% |

[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; 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

[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 Malawi

[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/malawi/)[Cassava](https://husfarm.com/production/cassava/malawi/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/malawi/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/malawi/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/malawi/)[Mangoes and guavas](https://husfarm.com/production/mangoes/malawi/)[Bananas](https://husfarm.com/production/bananas/malawi/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/malawi/)[Pigeon peas, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/pigeon-peas/malawi/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/malawi/)[Pumpkins and squash](https://husfarm.com/production/pumpkins/malawi/)[Plantains](https://husfarm.com/production/plantains/malawi/)
[Agricultural production in Malawi](https://husfarm.com/production/country/malawi/)

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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