> Nigeria had 52.1 million sheep in 2024, the 5th largest in the world (3.83% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 26%.

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

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

# Sheep in Nigeria

Nigeria had 52.1 million sheep in 2024, the 5th largest in the world (3.83% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 26%. This is the highest figure on record.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/lamb/)[Market prices in Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/country/nigeria/)

Animals, 202452.1 million head
World rank5 of 177
10-year change+26%
Record52.1 million head2024

## Sheep in Nigeria, 1961–2024 (head)

## Nigeria compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total3.8%3.6% in 2014
10-year change+26%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3 | [Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/australia/) | 79,330,000 | 5.8% |
| 4 | [Iran](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/iran/) | 53,820,779 | 3.9% |
| 5 | **Nigeria** | 52,136,324 | 3.8% |
| 6 | [Chad](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/chad/) | 45,168,961 | 3.3% |
| 7 | [Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/turkey/) | 44,080,584 | 3.2% |

[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; Nigeria is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 52,136,324 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 51,214,020 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 50,305,129 | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 49,124,553 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 47,926,393 | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 46,767,182 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 45,609,634 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 44,504,420 | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 43,418,947 | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 41,632,158 | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 41,284,022 | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 40,318,809 | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 39,335,424 | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 38,376,024 | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 35,519,760 | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 34,687,264 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 33,874,300 | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 33,080,400 | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 32,305,000 | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 31,547,900 | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 30,800,000 | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 30,086,400 | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 29,400,000 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 28,692,600 | +10% |
| 2000 | 26,000,000 | +8.3% |
| 1999 | 24,000,000 | +12% |
| 1998 | 21,500,000 | +10% |
| 1997 | 19,500,000 | +15% |
| 1996 | 17,000,000 | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 16,000,000 | +6.7% |
| 1994 | 15,000,000 | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 14,000,000 | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 13,500,000 | +3.8% |
| 1991 | 13,000,000 | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 12,460,000 | +4.1% |
| 1989 | 11,971,000 | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 11,575,000 | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 11,107,000 | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 10,701,000 | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 10,359,000 | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 9,815,000 | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 9,411,000 | +5.2% |
| 1982 | 8,943,000 | +5.5% |
| 1981 | 8,475,000 | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 8,050,000 | +6.8% |
| 1979 | 7,540,000 | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 7,041,000 | +7.9% |
| 1977 | 6,523,000 | +9.3% |
| 1976 | 5,970,000 | +11% |
| 1975 | 5,379,000 | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 4,940,000 | +10% |
| 1973 | 4,485,000 | +12% |
| 1972 | 4,022,000 | +12% |
| 1971 | 3,578,000 | +11% |
| 1970 | 3,219,000 | +12% |
| 1969 | 2,868,000 | +14% |
| 1968 | 2,513,000 | +12% |
| 1967 | 2,241,000 | +13% |
| 1966 | 1,982,000 | +13% |
| 1965 | 1,751,000 | +13% |
| 1964 | 1,544,000 | +15% |
| 1963 | 1,341,000 | +15% |
| 1962 | 1,165,000 | +14% |
| 1961 | 1,019,000 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many sheep are there in Nigeria?

Nigeria had 52.1 million sheep in 2024, 3.8% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does Nigeria rank in the world by number of sheep?

Nigeria ranked 5th 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 Nigeria changed?

It rose by 26% 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 Nigeria 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/)[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/)[Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/kenya/)
[All countries producing sheep](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/)

## Other products of Nigeria

[Yams](https://husfarm.com/production/yams/nigeria/)[Cassava](https://husfarm.com/production/cassava/nigeria/)[Oil palm fruit](https://husfarm.com/production/oil-palm-fruit/nigeria/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/nigeria/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/nigeria/)[Taro](https://husfarm.com/production/taro/nigeria/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/nigeria/)[Bananas](https://husfarm.com/production/bananas/nigeria/)[Sorghum](https://husfarm.com/production/sorghum/nigeria/)[Groundnuts (peanuts)](https://husfarm.com/production/groundnuts/nigeria/)[Cow peas, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-peas/nigeria/)[Other citrus fruit, n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-citrus-fruit/nigeria/)
[Agricultural production in Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/country/nigeria/)

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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