> Switzerland had 374,239 sheep in 2024, the 108th largest in the world (0.03% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 7.1%.

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

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

# Sheep in Switzerland

Switzerland had 374,239 sheep in 2024, the 108th largest in the world (0.03% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 7.1%. The record was 451,000 head in 2006.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/lamb/)

Animals, 2024374,239 head
World rank108 of 177
10-year change−7.1%
Record451,000 head2006

## Sheep in Switzerland, 1961–2024 (head)

## Switzerland compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.03%0.03% in 2014
10-year change−7.1%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 106 | [Israel](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/israel/) | 400,000 | 0.03% |
| 107 | [Austria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/austria/) | 390,940 | 0.03% |
| 108 | **Switzerland** | 374,239 | 0.03% |
| 109 | [Paraguay](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/paraguay/) | 371,738 | 0.03% |
| 110 | [Cyprus](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/cyprus/) | 364,750 | 0.03% |

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 374,239 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 362,375 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 355,893 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 349,112 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 343,528 | −0.0% |
| 2019 | 343,581 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 343,470 | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 342,419 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 338,922 | −2.3% |
| 2015 | 347,025 | −14% |
| 2014 | 402,772 | −1.6% |
| 2013 | 409,493 | −1.9% |
| 2012 | 417,274 | −1.6% |
| 2011 | 424,018 | −2.3% |
| 2010 | 434,083 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 431,889 | −3.2% |
| 2008 | 446,153 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 443,584 | −1.6% |
| 2006 | 451,000 | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 446,350 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 440,522 | −1.0% |
| 2003 | 444,811 | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 429,503 | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 419,995 | −0.2% |
| 2000 | 420,740 | −0.7% |
| 1999 | 423,521 | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 422,300 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 420,400 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 418,576 | −4.1% |
| 1995 | 436,500 | −0.6% |
| 1994 | 439,000 | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 424,027 | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 414,700 | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 409,400 | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 395,200 | +6.6% |
| 1989 | 370,900 | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 366,827 | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 355,300 | −2.7% |
| 1986 | 365,100 | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 356,800 | −1.2% |
| 1984 | 361,100 | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 355,307 | +6.8% |
| 1982 | 332,600 | −0.9% |
| 1981 | 335,500 | −5.1% |
| 1980 | 353,500 | −2.1% |
| 1979 | 361,100 | −5.8% |
| 1978 | 383,180 | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 368,400 | −2.4% |
| 1976 | 377,300 | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 365,600 | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 358,700 | +6.8% |
| 1973 | 336,010 | +12% |
| 1972 | 300,500 | +3.1% |
| 1971 | 291,600 | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 291,100 | +0.3% |
| 1969 | 290,100 | −2.6% |
| 1968 | 297,800 | +26% |
| 1967 | 235,600 | −12% |
| 1966 | 266,371 | +6.9% |
| 1965 | 249,100 | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 240,000 | +4.3% |
| 1963 | 230,000 | +1.4% |
| 1962 | 226,900 | −0.2% |
| 1961 | 227,411 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many sheep are there in Switzerland?

Switzerland had 374,239 sheep in 2024, 0.03% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

Switzerland ranked 108th 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 Switzerland changed?

It fell by 7.1% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 451,000 head in 2006.

### 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

[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/)[Nigeria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/nigeria/)[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/)
[All countries producing sheep](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/)

## Other products of Switzerland

[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/switzerland/)[Sugar beet](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-beet/switzerland/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/switzerland/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/switzerland/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/switzerland/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/switzerland/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/switzerland/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/switzerland/)[Cheese from whole cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cheese-from-whole-cow-milk/switzerland/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/switzerland/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/switzerland/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/switzerland/)
[Agricultural production in Switzerland](https://husfarm.com/production/country/switzerland/)

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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