Sheep in Norway
Norway had 2.1 million sheep in 2024, the 64th largest in the world (0.16% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 6.9%. The record was 2.6 million head in 1996.
- Animals, 2024
- 2.1 million head
- World rank
- 64 of 177
- 10-year change
- −6.9%
- Record
- 2.6 million head
- 1996
Sheep in Norway, 1961–2024 (head)
Norway compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.16%
- 0.20% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −6.9%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | Eritrea | 2,508,985 | 0.18% |
| 63 | Portugal | 2,142,450 | 0.16% |
| 64 | Norway | 2,128,600 | 0.16% |
| 65 | United Arab Emirates | 2,045,170 | 0.15% |
| 66 | Togo | 2,029,331 | 0.15% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Norway is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,128,600 | −2.1% |
| 2023 | 2,174,500 | −3.5% |
| 2022 | 2,253,000 | −0.5% |
| 2021 | 2,264,789 | −1.3% |
| 2020 | 2,295,736 | −0.5% |
| 2019 | 2,306,313 | −4.1% |
| 2018 | 2,403,826 | −0.6% |
| 2017 | 2,417,813 | −2.4% |
| 2016 | 2,477,400 | +4.1% |
| 2015 | 2,380,491 | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 2,287,410 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 2,273,941 | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 2,229,734 | −3.1% |
| 2011 | 2,300,471 | −0.3% |
| 2010 | 2,308,291 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 2,289,862 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 2,250,471 | −0.7% |
| 2007 | 2,267,134 | −3.9% |
| 2006 | 2,360,062 | −2.6% |
| 2005 | 2,423,041 | −1.8% |
| 2004 | 2,466,965 | −0.6% |
| 2003 | 2,481,073 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 2,459,185 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 2,452,814 | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 2,352,705 | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 2,324,789 | −0.5% |
| 1998 | 2,337,200 | −4.5% |
| 1997 | 2,447,800 | −4.3% |
| 1996 | 2,557,600 | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 2,524,200 | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 2,462,000 | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 2,316,900 | −2.0% |
| 1992 | 2,363,300 | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 2,297,100 | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 2,211,000 | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 2,182,900 | −1.2% |
| 1988 | 2,209,700 | −1.7% |
| 1987 | 2,247,700 | −3.9% |
| 1986 | 2,339,900 | −3.1% |
| 1985 | 2,414,500 | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 2,351,000 | +3.5% |
| 1983 | 2,272,100 | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 2,227,100 | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 2,153,900 | +8.1% |
| 1980 | 1,992,200 | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 1,952,092 | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 1,845,202 | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 1,782,416 | +6.9% |
| 1976 | 1,667,488 | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 1,639,313 | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 1,632,217 | −0.9% |
| 1973 | 1,647,546 | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 1,634,915 | −2.7% |
| 1971 | 1,681,132 | −4.1% |
| 1970 | 1,752,910 | −6.5% |
| 1969 | 1,873,940 | −3.7% |
| 1968 | 1,945,732 | −5.9% |
| 1967 | 2,067,423 | −1.4% |
| 1966 | 2,096,445 | +5.4% |
| 1965 | 1,989,201 | +2.5% |
| 1964 | 1,940,469 | +3.2% |
| 1963 | 1,881,200 | +0.9% |
| 1962 | 1,864,200 | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 1,855,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Norway?
Norway had 2.1 million sheep in 2024, 0.16% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Norway rank in the world by number of sheep?
Norway ranked 64th 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 Norway changed?
It fell by 6.9% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 2.6 million head in 1996.
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.