Sheep in United Kingdom
United Kingdom had 31.0 million sheep in 2024, the 12th largest in the world (2.28% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.1%. The record was 44.7 million head in 1999.
- Animals, 2024
- 31.0 million head
- World rank
- 12 of 177
- 10-year change
- −8.1%
- Record
- 44.7 million head
- 1999
Sheep in United Kingdom, 1961–2024 (head)
United Kingdom compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 2.3%
- 2.9% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −8.1%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Pakistan | 32,731,000 | 2.4% |
| 11 | Algeria | 32,354,831 | 2.4% |
| 12 | United Kingdom | 31,016,701 | 2.3% |
| 13 | Kenya | 26,214,927 | 1.9% |
| 14 | Mongolia | 24,491,124 | 1.8% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; United Kingdom is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31,016,701 | −2.5% |
| 2023 | 31,802,536 | −4.1% |
| 2022 | 33,173,748 | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 32,957,000 | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 32,697,000 | −2.6% |
| 2019 | 33,580,000 | −0.6% |
| 2018 | 33,781,000 | −3.0% |
| 2017 | 34,832,000 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 33,943,000 | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 33,337,000 | −1.2% |
| 2014 | 33,743,000 | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 32,856,000 | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 32,215,000 | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 31,634,000 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 31,084,000 | −1.1% |
| 2009 | 31,445,000 | −5.1% |
| 2008 | 33,131,000 | −2.4% |
| 2007 | 33,946,000 | −2.2% |
| 2006 | 34,722,000 | −1.5% |
| 2005 | 35,253,048 | −1.7% |
| 2004 | 35,848,000 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 35,846,000 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 35,834,280 | −2.4% |
| 2001 | 36,716,000 | −13% |
| 2000 | 42,264,000 | −5.4% |
| 1999 | 44,656,000 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 44,471,000 | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 42,823,000 | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 42,086,000 | −2.8% |
| 1995 | 43,304,000 | −1.2% |
| 1994 | 43,813,000 | −1.4% |
| 1993 | 44,436,000 | −0.2% |
| 1992 | 44,540,000 | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 43,639,000 | −0.4% |
| 1990 | 43,828,000 | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 43,012,000 | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 41,028,000 | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 38,776,000 | +4.7% |
| 1986 | 37,031,000 | +55% |
| 1985 | 23,946,000 | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 23,317,008 | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 22,944,000 | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 22,200,000 | +2.8% |
| 1981 | 21,604,000 | −0.0% |
| 1980 | 21,609,008 | −0.5% |
| 1979 | 21,715,008 | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 20,567,008 | +3.1% |
| 1977 | 19,942,000 | −29% |
| 1976 | 28,265,008 | −0.3% |
| 1975 | 28,364,000 | −0.8% |
| 1974 | 28,605,008 | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 28,049,504 | +4.0% |
| 1972 | 26,983,008 | +3.4% |
| 1971 | 26,088,608 | −0.4% |
| 1970 | 26,189,888 | −2.0% |
| 1969 | 26,717,264 | −5.0% |
| 1968 | 28,123,936 | −3.0% |
| 1967 | 29,007,920 | −3.6% |
| 1966 | 30,079,520 | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 30,029,104 | +0.9% |
| 1964 | 29,773,584 | +1.1% |
| 1963 | 29,454,304 | −0.5% |
| 1962 | 29,604,480 | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 29,069,936 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in United Kingdom?
United Kingdom had 31.0 million sheep in 2024, 2.3% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does United Kingdom rank in the world by number of sheep?
United Kingdom ranked 12th 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 United Kingdom changed?
It fell by 8.1% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 44.7 million head in 1999.
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.