Sheep in South Korea
South Korea had 1,391 sheep in 2024, the 172nd largest in the world (0.00% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 37%. The record was 8,181 head in 1979.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 1,391 head
- World rank
- 172 of 177
- 10-year change
- −37%
- Record
- 8,181 head
- 1979
Sheep in South Korea, 1961–2024 (head)
South Korea compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.00%
- 0.00% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −37%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 170 | Costa Rica | 2,896 | 0.00% |
| 171 | New Caledonia | 1,753 | 0.00% |
| 172 | South Korea | 1,391 | 0.00% |
| 173 | Jamaica | 1,311 | 0.00% |
| 174 | Vanuatu | 1,260 | 0.00% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; South Korea is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,391 | −11% |
| 2023 | 1,564 | −11% |
| 2022 | 1,756 | −8.3% |
| 2021 | 1,915 | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 1,895 | −3.0% |
| 2019 | 1,953 | −10% |
| 2018 | 2,172 | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 2,142 | +49% |
| 2016 | 1,436 | −56% |
| 2015 | 3,255 | +48% |
| 2014 | 2,199 | −13% |
| 2013 | 2,522 | −17% |
| 2012 | 3,035 | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 2,989 | −24% |
| 2010 | 3,918 | +22% |
| 2009 | 3,216 | +8.2% |
| 2008 | 2,971 | +65% |
| 2007 | 1,800 | +38% |
| 2006 | 1,308 | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 1,202 | +14% |
| 2004 | 1,057 | +11% |
| 2003 | 952 | +20% |
| 2002 | 791 | −2.2% |
| 2001 | 809 | −2.4% |
| 2000 | 829 | −24% |
| 1999 | 1,088 | −12% |
| 1998 | 1,242 | −15% |
| 1997 | 1,455 | −10% |
| 1996 | 1,624 | −0.4% |
| 1995 | 1,630 | +7.4% |
| 1994 | 1,517 | −22% |
| 1993 | 1,956 | −51% |
| 1992 | 3,970 | +18% |
| 1991 | 3,368 | +4.4% |
| 1990 | 3,225 | −5.4% |
| 1989 | 3,410 | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 3,321 | +1.8% |
| 1987 | 3,261 | −24% |
| 1986 | 4,286 | −13% |
| 1985 | 4,900 | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 4,651 | −24% |
| 1983 | 6,152 | +44% |
| 1982 | 4,282 | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 4,010 | −36% |
| 1980 | 6,233 | −24% |
| 1979 | 8,181 | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 7,900 | +13% |
| 1977 | 6,974 | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 6,810 | +17% |
| 1975 | 5,799 | +27% |
| 1974 | 4,582 | +22% |
| 1973 | 3,750 | +3.9% |
| 1972 | 3,609 | +21% |
| 1971 | 2,988 | +36% |
| 1970 | 2,200 | −11% |
| 1969 | 2,465 | +12% |
| 1968 | 2,197 | +37% |
| 1967 | 1,604 | −2.0% |
| 1966 | 1,637 | +59% |
| 1965 | 1,029 | −1.3% |
| 1964 | 1,043 | −12% |
| 1963 | 1,179 | −20% |
| 1962 | 1,465 | +3.5% |
| 1961 | 1,415 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in South Korea?
South Korea had 1,391 sheep in 2024, 0.00% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Korea rank in the world by number of sheep?
South Korea ranked 172nd 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 South Korea changed?
It fell by 37% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 8,181 head in 1979.
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 South Korea 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.