Sheep in Uruguay
Uruguay had 5.7 million sheep in 2024, the 49th largest in the world (0.41% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 24%. The record was 26.6 million head in 1991.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 5.7 million head
- World rank
- 49 of 177
- 10-year change
- −24%
- Record
- 26.6 million head
- 1991
Sheep in Uruguay, 1961–2024 (head)
Uruguay compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.41%
- 0.64% in 2014
- 10-year change
- −24%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Ghana | 6,176,664 | 0.45% |
| 48 | Tunisia | 6,094,960 | 0.45% |
| 49 | Uruguay | 5,654,270 | 0.41% |
| 50 | Kyrgyzstan | 5,621,278 | 0.41% |
| 51 | Italy | 5,390,350 | 0.40% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Uruguay is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,654,270 | −4.6% |
| 2023 | 5,927,000 | −3.8% |
| 2022 | 6,164,000 | −1.1% |
| 2021 | 6,230,000 | −1.7% |
| 2020 | 6,337,000 | −3.4% |
| 2019 | 6,562,000 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 6,399,000 | −2.5% |
| 2017 | 6,565,000 | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 6,546,000 | −1.5% |
| 2015 | 6,647,000 | −11% |
| 2014 | 7,427,000 | −9.3% |
| 2013 | 8,190,000 | −0.4% |
| 2012 | 8,225,000 | +10% |
| 2011 | 7,474,000 | −3.1% |
| 2010 | 7,710,000 | −11% |
| 2009 | 8,662,000 | −9.4% |
| 2008 | 9,558,000 | −7.4% |
| 2007 | 10,323,000 | −6.9% |
| 2006 | 11,087,000 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 10,847,000 | +11% |
| 2004 | 9,766,000 | −2.1% |
| 2003 | 9,975,000 | −7.6% |
| 2002 | 10,801,000 | −11% |
| 2001 | 12,083,000 | −8.4% |
| 2000 | 13,198,000 | −8.9% |
| 1999 | 14,491,000 | −12% |
| 1998 | 16,495,000 | −9.8% |
| 1997 | 18,280,000 | −7.4% |
| 1996 | 19,747,000 | −2.3% |
| 1995 | 20,205,000 | −4.8% |
| 1994 | 21,230,000 | −8.9% |
| 1993 | 23,301,000 | −6.9% |
| 1992 | 25,034,000 | −5.9% |
| 1991 | 26,611,000 | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 25,245,000 | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 24,871,584 | +0.7% |
| 1988 | 24,689,168 | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 24,006,000 | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 23,336,576 | +10% |
| 1985 | 21,196,000 | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 20,637,008 | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 20,447,200 | +0.7% |
| 1982 | 20,306,848 | −0.4% |
| 1981 | 20,390,688 | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 20,033,008 | +16% |
| 1979 | 17,233,008 | +6.7% |
| 1978 | 16,157,000 | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 15,974,000 | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 15,647,000 | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 15,069,000 | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 14,732,000 | −7.4% |
| 1973 | 15,902,339 | +2.7% |
| 1972 | 15,482,000 | −12% |
| 1971 | 17,687,008 | −11% |
| 1970 | 19,892,752 | −12% |
| 1969 | 22,606,000 | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 21,500,000 | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 21,400,000 | −7.3% |
| 1966 | 23,078,544 | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 21,874,000 | −0.1% |
| 1964 | 21,898,000 | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 21,829,008 | +0.3% |
| 1962 | 21,753,008 | +0.1% |
| 1961 | 21,737,856 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Uruguay?
Uruguay had 5.7 million sheep in 2024, 0.41% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Uruguay rank in the world by number of sheep?
Uruguay ranked 49th 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 Uruguay changed?
It fell by 24% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. The record was 26.6 million head in 1991.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for Uruguay is imputed by FAO. 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.