> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/united-kingdom/

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

# 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.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/lamb/)[Market prices in United Kingdom](https://husfarm.com/country/united-kingdom/)

Animals, 202431.0 million head
World rank12 of 177
10-year change−8.1%
Record44.7 million head1999

## Sheep in United Kingdom, 1961–2024 (head)

## United Kingdom compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total2.3%2.9% in 2014
10-year change−8.1%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 10 | [Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/pakistan/) | 32,731,000 | 2.4% |
| 11 | [Algeria](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/algeria/) | 32,354,831 | 2.4% |
| 12 | **United Kingdom** | 31,016,701 | 2.3% |
| 13 | [Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/kenya/) | 26,214,927 | 1.9% |
| 14 | [Mongolia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/mongolia/) | 24,491,124 | 1.8% |

[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; 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

[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/)[Kenya](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/kenya/)
[All countries producing sheep](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/)

## Other products of United Kingdom

[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/united-kingdom/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/united-kingdom/)[Sugar beet](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-beet/united-kingdom/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/united-kingdom/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/united-kingdom/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/united-kingdom/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/united-kingdom/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/united-kingdom/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/united-kingdom/)[Oats](https://husfarm.com/production/oats/united-kingdom/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/united-kingdom/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/united-kingdom/)
[Agricultural production in United Kingdom](https://husfarm.com/production/country/united-kingdom/)

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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