Sheep in Somalia
Somalia had 8.0 million sheep in 2024, the 40th largest in the world (0.59% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 35%. The record was 14.7 million head in 2005.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 8.0 million head
- World rank
- 40 of 177
- 10-year change
- −35%
- Record
- 14.7 million head
- 2005
Sheep in Somalia, 1961–2024 (head)
Somalia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.59%
- 1.1% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −35%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Mexico | 8,866,253 | 0.65% |
| 39 | Senegal | 8,726,635 | 0.64% |
| 40 | Somalia | 7,987,932 | 0.59% |
| 41 | Greece | 7,774,200 | 0.57% |
| 42 | Libya | 7,491,773 | 0.55% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Somalia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7,987,932 | −11% |
| 2023 | 8,962,290 | −8.8% |
| 2022 | 9,828,805 | −7.0% |
| 2021 | 10,565,692 | −5.0% |
| 2020 | 11,124,391 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 11,000,000 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 10,884,436 | −1.1% |
| 2017 | 11,000,000 | −5.1% |
| 2016 | 11,591,374 | −3.7% |
| 2015 | 12,039,813 | −2.3% |
| 2014 | 12,325,000 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 12,300,000 | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 12,300,000 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 12,250,000 | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 12,000,000 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 11,760,000 | −0.2% |
| 2008 | 11,780,000 | −0.1% |
| 2007 | 11,790,000 | −10.0% |
| 2006 | 13,100,000 | −11% |
| 2005 | 14,700,000 | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 14,500,000 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 14,350,000 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 14,324,000 | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 14,084,000 | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 13,808,000 | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 13,537,000 | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 13,500,000 | 0.0% |
| 1997 | 13,500,000 | 0.0% |
| 1996 | 13,500,000 | 0.0% |
| 1995 | 13,500,000 | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 13,000,000 | +13% |
| 1993 | 11,500,000 | +15% |
| 1992 | 10,000,000 | −9.1% |
| 1991 | 11,000,000 | −15% |
| 1990 | 13,000,000 | −9.4% |
| 1989 | 14,350,000 | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 14,304,000 | +8.4% |
| 1987 | 13,195,000 | +7.5% |
| 1986 | 12,274,000 | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 11,800,000 | 0.0% |
| 1984 | 11,800,000 | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 11,200,000 | +5.9% |
| 1982 | 10,580,000 | −2.0% |
| 1981 | 10,800,000 | +4.9% |
| 1980 | 10,300,000 | 0.0% |
| 1979 | 10,300,000 | −3.7% |
| 1978 | 10,700,000 | +9.2% |
| 1977 | 9,800,000 | +10% |
| 1976 | 8,900,000 | −5.7% |
| 1975 | 9,438,000 | +8.5% |
| 1974 | 8,700,000 | −6.5% |
| 1973 | 9,300,000 | 0.0% |
| 1972 | 9,300,000 | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 9,000,000 | −2.2% |
| 1970 | 9,200,000 | +5.7% |
| 1969 | 8,700,000 | +3.6% |
| 1968 | 8,400,000 | +5.0% |
| 1967 | 8,000,000 | +3.9% |
| 1966 | 7,700,000 | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 7,300,000 | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 7,100,000 | +4.4% |
| 1963 | 6,800,000 | +4.6% |
| 1962 | 6,500,000 | +4.8% |
| 1961 | 6,200,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Somalia?
Somalia had 8.0 million sheep in 2024, 0.59% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Somalia rank in the world by number of sheep?
Somalia ranked 40th 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 Somalia changed?
It fell by 35% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 14.7 million head in 2005.
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 Somalia is estimated by FAO. 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.