Sheep in Netherlands
Netherlands had 607,000 sheep in 2024, the 94th largest in the world (0.04% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 44%. The record was 2.0 million head in 1992.
- Animals, 2024
- 607,000 head
- World rank
- 94 of 177
- 10-year change
- −44%
- Record
- 2.0 million head
- 1992
Sheep in Netherlands, 1961–2024 (head)
Netherlands compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.04%
- 0.09% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −44%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | Venezuela | 629,786 | 0.05% |
| 93 | Guatemala | 611,329 | 0.04% |
| 94 | Netherlands | 607,000 | 0.04% |
| 95 | Croatia | 553,000 | 0.04% |
| 96 | Myanmar | 540,000 | 0.04% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Netherlands is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 607,000 | −8.7% |
| 2023 | 665,000 | −8.0% |
| 2022 | 723,000 | −0.8% |
| 2021 | 729,000 | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 710,000 | −6.3% |
| 2019 | 758,000 | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 743,000 | −7.0% |
| 2017 | 798,830 | −23% |
| 2016 | 1,040,000 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 1,032,000 | −4.1% |
| 2014 | 1,076,000 | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 1,033,570 | −0.9% |
| 2012 | 1,042,760 | −4.2% |
| 2011 | 1,088,490 | −3.6% |
| 2010 | 1,129,500 | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 1,116,610 | −7.9% |
| 2008 | 1,213,000 | −11% |
| 2007 | 1,369,000 | −0.5% |
| 2006 | 1,376,000 | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 1,363,000 | +10% |
| 2004 | 1,236,000 | +4.3% |
| 2003 | 1,185,000 | −0.1% |
| 2002 | 1,186,000 | −8.5% |
| 2001 | 1,296,000 | −0.9% |
| 2000 | 1,308,000 | −6.6% |
| 1999 | 1,401,000 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 1,394,000 | −4.8% |
| 1997 | 1,465,000 | −10.0% |
| 1996 | 1,627,000 | −2.8% |
| 1995 | 1,674,000 | −5.2% |
| 1994 | 1,766,000 | −7.8% |
| 1993 | 1,916,000 | −1.9% |
| 1992 | 1,954,000 | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 1,882,000 | +9.1% |
| 1990 | 1,725,000 | +23% |
| 1989 | 1,405,000 | +20% |
| 1988 | 1,169,000 | +19% |
| 1987 | 984,572 | +13% |
| 1986 | 868,112 | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 814,342 | +6.4% |
| 1984 | 765,529 | −0.9% |
| 1983 | 772,342 | −0.5% |
| 1982 | 776,404 | −4.7% |
| 1981 | 814,942 | −5.0% |
| 1980 | 858,084 | −4.2% |
| 1979 | 895,411 | +6.5% |
| 1978 | 841,080 | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 799,629 | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 780,017 | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 760,102 | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 749,182 | +14% |
| 1973 | 657,307 | +11% |
| 1972 | 592,089 | +3.5% |
| 1971 | 572,153 | −6.2% |
| 1970 | 610,272 | +10% |
| 1969 | 554,463 | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 552,000 | +4.3% |
| 1967 | 529,218 | −5.2% |
| 1966 | 558,315 | +15% |
| 1965 | 484,117 | +9.3% |
| 1964 | 443,090 | −5.4% |
| 1963 | 468,368 | −2.9% |
| 1962 | 482,305 | +10% |
| 1961 | 438,072 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Netherlands?
Netherlands had 607,000 sheep in 2024, 0.04% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Netherlands rank in the world by number of sheep?
Netherlands ranked 94th 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 Netherlands changed?
It fell by 44% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 2.0 million head in 1992.
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.