Sheep in Turkey
Turkey had 44.1 million sheep in 2024, the 7th largest in the world (3.24% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 42%. The record was 49.6 million head in 1983.
- Animals, 2024
- 44.1 million head
- World rank
- 7 of 177
- 10-year change
- +42%
- Record
- 49.6 million head
- 1983
Sheep in Turkey, 1961–2024 (head)
Turkey compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 3.2%
- 2.7% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +42%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Nigeria | 52,136,324 | 3.8% |
| 6 | Chad | 45,168,961 | 3.3% |
| 7 | Turkey | 44,080,584 | 3.2% |
| 8 | Ethiopia | 41,050,910 | 3.0% |
| 9 | Sudan | 40,705,303 | 3.0% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Turkey is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 44,080,584 | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 42,060,470 | −5.9% |
| 2022 | 44,687,888 | −1.1% |
| 2021 | 45,177,690 | +7.2% |
| 2020 | 42,126,781 | +13% |
| 2019 | 37,276,050 | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 35,194,972 | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 33,677,636 | +8.7% |
| 2016 | 30,983,933 | −1.7% |
| 2015 | 31,507,934 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 31,140,244 | +6.3% |
| 2013 | 29,284,247 | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 27,425,233 | +9.6% |
| 2011 | 25,031,565 | +8.4% |
| 2010 | 23,089,691 | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 21,749,508 | −9.3% |
| 2008 | 23,974,591 | −5.8% |
| 2007 | 25,462,293 | −0.6% |
| 2006 | 25,616,912 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 25,304,324 | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 25,201,156 | −0.9% |
| 2003 | 25,431,540 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 25,173,706 | −6.7% |
| 2001 | 26,972,000 | −5.3% |
| 2000 | 28,492,000 | −5.8% |
| 1999 | 30,256,000 | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 29,435,000 | −2.7% |
| 1997 | 30,238,000 | −8.6% |
| 1996 | 33,072,000 | −2.1% |
| 1995 | 33,791,000 | −5.2% |
| 1994 | 35,646,000 | −5.0% |
| 1993 | 37,541,000 | −4.8% |
| 1992 | 39,415,938 | −2.5% |
| 1991 | 40,432,340 | −7.4% |
| 1990 | 43,647,008 | −3.8% |
| 1989 | 45,384,000 | +3.6% |
| 1988 | 43,796,000 | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 43,758,000 | +3.0% |
| 1986 | 42,500,000 | +5.2% |
| 1985 | 40,391,008 | −17% |
| 1984 | 48,707,008 | −1.9% |
| 1983 | 49,636,000 | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 49,598,000 | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 48,630,000 | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 46,026,000 | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 43,942,000 | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 42,708,000 | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 41,504,000 | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 41,366,000 | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 40,539,008 | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 40,093,008 | +3.3% |
| 1973 | 38,806,000 | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 37,008,000 | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 36,471,008 | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 36,351,008 | −0.6% |
| 1969 | 36,587,008 | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 35,878,000 | +3.5% |
| 1967 | 34,663,008 | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 33,382,000 | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 32,654,000 | +1.2% |
| 1964 | 32,278,976 | +2.1% |
| 1963 | 31,614,000 | −5.1% |
| 1962 | 33,306,896 | −3.4% |
| 1961 | 34,463,200 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Turkey?
Turkey had 44.1 million sheep in 2024, 3.2% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Turkey rank in the world by number of sheep?
Turkey ranked 7th 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 Turkey changed?
It rose by 42% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 49.6 million head in 1983.
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.