> 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%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/uruguay/

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# 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.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/lamb/)[Market prices in Uruguay](https://husfarm.com/country/uruguay/)

Animals, 20245.7 million head
World rank49 of 177
10-year change−24%
Record26.6 million head1991

## Sheep in Uruguay, 1961–2024 (head)

## Uruguay compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total0.41%0.64% in 2014
10-year change−24%world +17%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Head | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 47 | [Ghana](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/ghana/) | 6,176,664 | 0.45% |
| 48 | [Tunisia](https://husfarm.com/production/sheep/tunisia/) | 6,094,960 | 0.45% |
| 49 | **Uruguay** | 5,654,270 | 0.41% |
| 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% |

[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; 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

[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 Uruguay

[Soybeans](https://husfarm.com/production/soybeans/uruguay/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/uruguay/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/uruguay/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/uruguay/)[Barley](https://husfarm.com/production/barley/uruguay/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/uruguay/)[Beef (cattle meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/beef/uruguay/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/uruguay/)[Skim milk of cows](https://husfarm.com/production/skim-milk-of-cows/uruguay/)[Rapeseed](https://husfarm.com/production/rapeseed/uruguay/)[Beer](https://husfarm.com/production/beer/uruguay/)[Whole milk powder](https://husfarm.com/production/whole-milk-powder/uruguay/)
[Agricultural production in Uruguay](https://husfarm.com/production/country/uruguay/)

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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