> United States had 5.0 million sheep in 2024, the 52nd largest in the world (0.37% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 4.1%.

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

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

# Sheep in United States

United States had 5.0 million sheep in 2024, the 52nd largest in the world (0.37% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 4.1%. The record was 32.7 million head in 1961.

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

Animals, 20245.0 million head
World rank52 of 177
10-year change−4.1%
Record32.7 million head1961

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

## United States compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.37%0.45% in 2014
10-year change−4.1%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 50 | [Kyrgyzstan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/kyrgyzstan/) | 5,621,278 | 0.41% |
| 51 | [Italy](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/italy/) | 5,390,350 | 0.40% |
| 52 | **United States** | 5,030,000 | 0.37% |
| 53 | [Uganda](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/uganda/) | 4,373,676 | 0.32% |
| 54 | [Tajikistan](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/tajikistan/) | 4,283,000 | 0.31% |

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

## By year

| Year | Head | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 5,030,000 | −1.9% |
| 2023 | 5,130,000 | −0.7% |
| 2022 | 5,165,000 | −0.7% |
| 2021 | 5,200,000 | 0.0% |
| 2020 | 5,200,000 | −0.6% |
| 2019 | 5,230,000 | −0.7% |
| 2018 | 5,265,000 | −0.1% |
| 2017 | 5,270,000 | −0.5% |
| 2016 | 5,295,000 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 5,280,000 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 5,245,000 | −2.1% |
| 2013 | 5,360,000 | −0.3% |
| 2012 | 5,375,000 | −1.9% |
| 2011 | 5,480,000 | −2.5% |
| 2010 | 5,620,000 | −2.2% |
| 2009 | 5,747,000 | −3.4% |
| 2008 | 5,950,000 | −2.8% |
| 2007 | 6,120,000 | −1.8% |
| 2006 | 6,230,000 | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 6,135,000 | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 6,105,000 | −3.4% |
| 2003 | 6,321,000 | −4.6% |
| 2002 | 6,623,000 | −4.9% |
| 2001 | 6,965,000 | −1.0% |
| 2000 | 7,032,000 | −2.5% |
| 1999 | 7,215,000 | −7.8% |
| 1998 | 7,825,000 | −2.5% |
| 1997 | 8,024,000 | −5.2% |
| 1996 | 8,465,000 | −5.8% |
| 1995 | 8,989,000 | −8.6% |
| 1994 | 9,836,000 | −3.6% |
| 1993 | 10,201,000 | −5.5% |
| 1992 | 10,797,000 | −3.4% |
| 1991 | 11,174,000 | −1.6% |
| 1990 | 11,358,000 | +4.7% |
| 1989 | 10,853,000 | −0.8% |
| 1988 | 10,945,000 | +5.4% |
| 1987 | 10,389,000 | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 10,145,000 | −5.3% |
| 1985 | 10,716,000 | −7.3% |
| 1984 | 11,559,000 | −4.8% |
| 1983 | 12,140,000 | −6.6% |
| 1982 | 12,997,000 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 12,947,000 | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 12,699,000 | +2.7% |
| 1979 | 12,365,300 | −0.4% |
| 1978 | 12,421,000 | −2.4% |
| 1977 | 12,722,100 | −4.4% |
| 1976 | 13,311,000 | −8.3% |
| 1975 | 14,515,000 | −11% |
| 1974 | 16,310,000 | −7.5% |
| 1973 | 17,641,008 | −5.9% |
| 1972 | 18,739,008 | −5.0% |
| 1971 | 19,731,008 | −3.4% |
| 1970 | 20,423,008 | −4.3% |
| 1969 | 21,350,000 | −3.9% |
| 1968 | 22,223,008 | −7.2% |
| 1967 | 23,953,008 | −3.2% |
| 1966 | 24,734,000 | −1.6% |
| 1965 | 25,127,008 | −7.3% |
| 1964 | 27,116,000 | −7.1% |
| 1963 | 29,176,000 | −5.8% |
| 1962 | 30,969,008 | −5.4% |
| 1961 | 32,725,008 | — |

## Questions and answers

### How many sheep are there in United States?

United States had 5.0 million sheep in 2024, 0.37% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

United States ranked 52nd 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 States changed?

It fell by 4.1% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 32.7 million head in 1961.

### 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 United States

[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/united-states/)[Soybeans](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/united-states/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/united-states/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/united-states/)[Sugar beet](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-beet/united-states/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/united-states/)[Chicken meat](https://husfarm.com/production/chicken-meat/united-states/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/united-states/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/united-states/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/united-states/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/united-states/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/united-states/)
[Agricultural production in United States](https://husfarm.com/production/country/united-states/)

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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