> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/new-zealand/

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

# 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.

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

Animals, 202423.6 million head
World rank16 of 177
10-year change−21%
Record70.3 million head1982

## Sheep in New Zealand, 1961–2024 (head)

## New Zealand compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total1.7%2.6% in 2014
10-year change−21%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 14 | [Mongolia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/mongolia/) | 24,491,124 | 1.8% |
| 15 | [Mali](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/mali/) | 24,483,549 | 1.8% |
| 16 | **New Zealand** | 23,583,001 | 1.7% |
| 17 | [Saudi Arabia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/saudi-arabia/) | 22,428,136 | 1.6% |
| 18 | [Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/brazil/) | 21,862,326 | 1.6% |

[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; 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

[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 New Zealand

[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/new-zealand/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/new-zealand/)[Whole milk powder](https://husfarm.com/production/whole-milk-powder/new-zealand/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/new-zealand/)[Kiwi fruit](https://husfarm.com/production/kiwi-fruit/new-zealand/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/new-zealand/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/new-zealand/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/new-zealand/)[Butter of cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/butter-of-cow-milk/new-zealand/)[Sheep meat](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep-meat/new-zealand/)[Grapes](https://husfarm.com/production/grapes/new-zealand/)[Skim milk and whey powder](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-and-whey-powder/new-zealand/)
[Agricultural production in New Zealand](https://husfarm.com/production/country/new-zealand/)

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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