Sheep in New Zealand
New Zealand had 23.6 million sheep in 2024, the 16th largest in the world (1.73% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 21%. The record was 70.3 million head in 1982.
- Animals, 2024
- 23.6 million head
- World rank
- 16 of 177
- 10-year change
- −21%
- Record
- 70.3 million head
- 1982
Sheep in New Zealand, 1961–2024 (head)
New Zealand compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 1.7%
- 2.6% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −21%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Mongolia | 24,491,124 | 1.8% |
| 15 | Mali | 24,483,549 | 1.8% |
| 16 | New Zealand | 23,583,001 | 1.7% |
| 17 | Saudi Arabia | 22,428,136 | 1.6% |
| 18 | Brazil | 21,862,326 | 1.6% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; New Zealand is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23,583,001 | −3.2% |
| 2023 | 24,359,267 | −3.1% |
| 2022 | 25,132,697 | −2.3% |
| 2021 | 25,732,889 | −1.1% |
| 2020 | 26,028,935 | −3.0% |
| 2019 | 26,821,846 | −1.7% |
| 2018 | 27,295,749 | −0.8% |
| 2017 | 27,526,537 | −0.2% |
| 2016 | 27,583,673 | −5.3% |
| 2015 | 29,120,827 | −2.3% |
| 2014 | 29,803,402 | −3.2% |
| 2013 | 30,786,761 | −1.5% |
| 2012 | 31,262,715 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 31,132,328 | −4.4% |
| 2010 | 32,562,612 | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 32,383,588 | −5.0% |
| 2008 | 34,087,864 | −11% |
| 2007 | 38,460,476 | −4.0% |
| 2006 | 40,081,594 | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 39,879,660 | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 39,271,336 | −0.7% |
| 2003 | 39,552,112 | −0.1% |
| 2002 | 39,572,000 | −1.1% |
| 2001 | 40,010,000 | −5.3% |
| 2000 | 42,260,000 | −7.5% |
| 1999 | 45,679,888 | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 44,400,000 | −3.6% |
| 1997 | 46,077,000 | −2.8% |
| 1996 | 47,393,908 | −2.9% |
| 1995 | 48,816,272 | −1.3% |
| 1994 | 49,466,056 | −1.7% |
| 1993 | 50,298,360 | −4.3% |
| 1992 | 52,568,000 | −4.7% |
| 1991 | 55,161,648 | −4.7% |
| 1990 | 57,852,192 | −4.5% |
| 1989 | 60,568,656 | −6.2% |
| 1988 | 64,600,080 | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 64,243,856 | −4.8% |
| 1986 | 67,469,520 | −0.6% |
| 1985 | 67,853,616 | −2.7% |
| 1984 | 69,739,008 | −0.7% |
| 1983 | 70,262,576 | −0.1% |
| 1982 | 70,301,456 | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 69,883,760 | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 68,771,776 | +8.3% |
| 1979 | 63,523,312 | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 62,162,864 | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 59,104,816 | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 56,400,384 | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 55,320,000 | −1.0% |
| 1974 | 55,883,008 | −1.4% |
| 1973 | 56,683,808 | −6.9% |
| 1972 | 60,882,720 | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 58,912,000 | −2.3% |
| 1970 | 60,276,112 | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 59,937,424 | −0.9% |
| 1968 | 60,473,600 | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 60,029,984 | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 57,343,264 | +6.7% |
| 1965 | 53,747,760 | +4.8% |
| 1964 | 51,291,808 | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 50,190,288 | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 48,988,000 | +1.1% |
| 1961 | 48,462,304 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in New Zealand?
New Zealand had 23.6 million sheep in 2024, 1.7% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does New Zealand rank in the world by number of sheep?
New Zealand ranked 16th 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 New Zealand changed?
It fell by 21% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 70.3 million head in 1982.
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.