FAOSTAT · 1961–2024
Sheep in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia had 22.4 million sheep in 2024, the 17th largest in the world (1.65% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 148%. This is the highest figure on record.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 22.4 million head
- World rank
- 17 of 177
- 10-year change
- +148%
- Record
- 22.4 million head
- 2024
Sheep in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2024 (head)
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22,428,136 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 21,999,998 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 21,804,724 | +24% |
| 2021 | 17,535,421 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 17,500,000 | +86% |
| 2019 | 9,419,686 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 9,396,448 | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 9,328,455 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 9,236,547 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 9,145,544 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 9,055,438 | −21% |
| 2013 | 11,500,000 | +14% |
| 2012 | 10,129,000 | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 10,096,000 | +16% |
| 2010 | 8,741,000 | +49% |
| 2009 | 5,885,532 | −16% |
| 2008 | 6,974,779 | −14% |
| 2007 | 8,082,852 | −0.1% |
| 2006 | 8,090,722 | −4.8% |
| 2005 | 8,500,941 | +5.6% |
| 2004 | 8,047,016 | +11% |
| 2003 | 7,225,872 | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 7,009,899 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 7,005,840 | −12% |
| 2000 | 7,934,490 | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 7,563,341 | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 7,421,906 | −0.4% |
| 1997 | 7,452,160 | −4.5% |
| 1996 | 7,802,750 | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 7,587,720 | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 7,531,000 | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 7,166,145 | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 6,890,451 | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 6,552,927 | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 6,383,357 | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 6,173,345 | −0.3% |
| 1988 | 6,194,469 | −9.1% |
| 1987 | 6,812,374 | −6.3% |
| 1986 | 7,271,829 | +8.8% |
| 1985 | 6,684,283 | −3.7% |
| 1984 | 6,940,314 | −0.1% |
| 1983 | 6,949,254 | +19% |
| 1982 | 5,856,654 | +51% |
| 1981 | 3,891,000 | −8.4% |
| 1980 | 4,247,000 | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 3,981,000 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 3,887,000 | +19% |
| 1977 | 3,270,000 | +1.2% |
| 1976 | 3,230,000 | +4.4% |
| 1975 | 3,093,000 | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 2,840,000 | +7.7% |
| 1973 | 2,637,000 | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 2,535,000 | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 2,440,000 | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 2,345,000 | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 2,255,000 | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 2,165,000 | +2.9% |
| 1967 | 2,105,000 | +2.9% |
| 1966 | 2,045,000 | +3.0% |
| 1965 | 1,985,000 | +3.1% |
| 1964 | 1,925,000 | +2.9% |
| 1963 | 1,870,000 | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 1,815,000 | +2.8% |
| 1961 | 1,765,000 | — |
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.