Sheep in Morocco
Morocco had 19.9 million sheep in 2024, the 21st largest in the world (1.46% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 3.4%. The record was 22.7 million head in 2021.
- Animals, 2024
- 19.9 million head
- World rank
- 21 of 177
- 10-year change
- +3.4%
- Record
- 22.7 million head
- 2021
Sheep in Morocco, 1961–2024 (head)
Morocco compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.5%
- 1.7% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +3.4%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | South Africa | 21,240,448 | 1.6% |
| 20 | Uzbekistan | 21,028,100 | 1.5% |
| 21 | Morocco | 19,892,910 | 1.5% |
| 22 | Russia | 19,111,986 | 1.4% |
| 23 | Kazakhstan | 18,546,044 | 1.4% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Morocco is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19,892,910 | −3.7% |
| 2023 | 20,660,585 | −4.5% |
| 2022 | 21,628,277 | −4.8% |
| 2021 | 22,726,481 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 22,088,800 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 21,591,000 | +8.6% |
| 2018 | 19,880,000 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 19,863,000 | −0.0% |
| 2016 | 19,870,000 | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 18,509,601 | −3.8% |
| 2014 | 19,230,835 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 18,979,704 | −0.1% |
| 2012 | 19,006,080 | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 18,737,340 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 18,023,200 | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 17,006,000 | −0.4% |
| 2008 | 17,077,700 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 16,894,000 | −2.1% |
| 2006 | 17,259,700 | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 16,872,000 | −0.9% |
| 2004 | 17,026,300 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 16,743,000 | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 16,335,500 | −4.9% |
| 2001 | 17,172,300 | −0.7% |
| 2000 | 17,299,700 | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 16,576,400 | +12% |
| 1998 | 14,783,900 | −3.3% |
| 1997 | 15,286,700 | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 14,536,100 | +8.6% |
| 1995 | 13,388,600 | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 13,308,900 | +12% |
| 1993 | 11,868,070 | −9.8% |
| 1992 | 13,153,700 | −1.2% |
| 1991 | 13,307,557 | −1.5% |
| 1990 | 13,514,426 | −1.8% |
| 1989 | 13,761,368 | +8.1% |
| 1988 | 12,733,345 | −21% |
| 1987 | 16,135,660 | +11% |
| 1986 | 14,544,940 | +13% |
| 1985 | 12,862,000 | +12% |
| 1984 | 11,493,179 | −8.9% |
| 1983 | 12,611,000 | +24% |
| 1982 | 10,155,000 | −35% |
| 1981 | 15,675,000 | −5.1% |
| 1980 | 16,509,808 | +22% |
| 1979 | 13,500,000 | −5.6% |
| 1978 | 14,300,000 | 0.0% |
| 1977 | 14,300,000 | +0.2% |
| 1976 | 14,270,000 | −3.6% |
| 1975 | 14,800,000 | −7.5% |
| 1974 | 16,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1973 | 16,000,000 | −3.0% |
| 1972 | 16,500,000 | −9.6% |
| 1971 | 18,260,000 | +7.4% |
| 1970 | 17,000,000 | +6.3% |
| 1969 | 16,000,000 | +8.5% |
| 1968 | 14,750,000 | +10% |
| 1967 | 13,408,000 | +6.7% |
| 1966 | 12,569,700 | +4.8% |
| 1965 | 11,990,300 | +16% |
| 1964 | 10,362,900 | +14% |
| 1963 | 9,123,500 | −11% |
| 1962 | 10,268,100 | −21% |
| 1961 | 13,041,700 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Morocco?
Morocco had 19.9 million sheep in 2024, 1.5% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Morocco rank in the world by number of sheep?
Morocco ranked 21st 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 Morocco changed?
It rose by 3.4% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 22.7 million head in 2021.
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
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.