3.99M
20215.11M
2021■ Sheep ■ People
More People Than Sheep
Highest Sheep Pop.
7.56M
2000Lowest Sheep Pop.
2.34M
1981Max sheep per person
1.99
2000Min sheep per person
0.68
1981Summary
The sheep population of Ireland grew from 3,106,500 in 1961 to 3,991,180 in 2021 — a 28% increase over six decades. The flock peaked at 7,555,000 in 2000. In 2021, there was 1 sheep for every 1.3 people.
Fun Sheep Fact
Ireland has more sheep than people, with woolly flocks outnumbering humans by millions! These baa-d boys produce some of the world's finest wool, making Ireland absolutely shear-ly incredible for sheep farming.
Sheep Population (1961-2021)
Sheep & People (% of combined)
Year by Year
| Year | Sheep | People | Sheep per person | Persons per sheep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,991,1803.99M | 5,110,5855.11M | 0.78 | 1.28 |
| 2020 | 3,877,2203.88M | 5,039,7475.04M | 0.77 | 1.30 |
| 2019 | 3,809,3703.81M | 4,976,4564.98M | 0.77 | 1.31 |
| 2018 | 3,798,4803.8M | 4,898,0224.9M | 0.78 | 1.29 |
| 2017 | 5,197,1405.2M | 4,827,4454.83M | 1.08 | 0.93 |
| 2016 | 5,179,2005.18M | 4,762,7224.76M | 1.09 | 0.92 |
| 2015 | 5,138,7005.14M | 4,701,9574.7M | 1.09 | 0.92 |
| 2014 | 5,096,8005.1M | 4,657,7404.66M | 1.09 | 0.91 |
| 2013 | 5,007,0005.01M | 4,623,8164.62M | 1.08 | 0.92 |
| 2012 | 5,170,0005.17M | 4,599,5334.6M | 1.12 | 0.89 |
| 2011 | 4,830,0004.83M | 4,580,0844.58M | 1.05 | 0.95 |
| 2010 | 4,745,4004.75M | 4,560,1554.56M | 1.04 | 0.96 |
| 2009 | 4,778,0004.78M | 4,535,3754.54M | 1.05 | 0.95 |
| 2008 | 5,061,4005.06M | 4,489,5444.49M | 1.13 | 0.89 |
| 2007 | 5,521,6005.52M | 4,398,9424.4M | 1.26 | 0.80 |
| 2006 | 5,973,2005.97M | 4,273,5914.27M | 1.40 | 0.72 |
| 2005 | 6,392,2006.39M | 4,159,9144.16M | 1.54 | 0.65 |
| 2004 | 6,777,2006.78M | 4,070,2624.07M | 1.67 | 0.60 |
| 2003 | 6,848,9006.85M | 3,996,5214M | 1.71 | 0.58 |
| 2002 | 7,209,6007.21M | 3,931,9473.93M | 1.83 | 0.55 |
| 2001 | 7,330,3007.33M | 3,866,2433.87M | 1.90 | 0.53 |
| 2000 | 7,555,0007.56M | 3,805,1743.81M | 1.99 | 0.50 |
| 1999 | 5,559,1005.56M | 3,754,7863.75M | 1.48 | 0.68 |
| 1998 | 5,577,2005.58M | 3,712,6963.71M | 1.50 | 0.67 |
| 1997 | 5,341,9005.34M | 3,674,1713.67M | 1.45 | 0.69 |
| 1996 | 5,543,4005.54M | 3,637,5103.64M | 1.52 | 0.66 |
| 1995 | 5,739,7005.74M | 3,608,8413.61M | 1.59 | 0.63 |
| 1994 | 5,966,5005.97M | 3,590,3863.59M | 1.66 | 0.60 |
| 1993 | 6,109,2006.11M | 3,576,2613.58M | 1.71 | 0.59 |
| 1992 | 5,982,6005.98M | 3,558,4303.56M | 1.68 | 0.59 |
| 1991 | 5,863,7005.86M | 3,534,2353.53M | 1.66 | 0.60 |
| 1990 | 5,713,9005.71M | 3,513,9743.51M | 1.63 | 0.61 |
| 1989 | 4,991,2004.99M | 3,511,0093.51M | 1.42 | 0.70 |
| 1988 | 4,300,6004.3M | 3,524,9493.52M | 1.22 | 0.82 |
| 1987 | 3,671,8003.67M | 3,540,0573.54M | 1.04 | 0.96 |
| 1986 | 3,304,0003.3M | 3,539,6903.54M | 0.93 | 1.07 |
| 1985 | 3,081,8003.08M | 3,538,0823.54M | 0.87 | 1.15 |
| 1984 | 2,813,2002.81M | 3,532,4233.53M | 0.80 | 1.26 |
| 1983 | 2,608,5002.61M | 3,510,6003.51M | 0.74 | 1.35 |
| 1982 | 2,449,3002.45M | 3,485,8003.49M | 0.70 | 1.42 |
| 1981 | 2,343,6002.34M | 3,453,0003.45M | 0.68 | 1.47 |
| 1980 | 2,359,6002.36M | 3,412,8003.41M | 0.69 | 1.45 |
| 1979 | 2,417,8002.42M | 3,373,7503.37M | 0.72 | 1.40 |
| 1978 | 2,526,0002.53M | 3,329,1003.33M | 0.76 | 1.32 |
| 1977 | 2,581,9002.58M | 3,282,2003.28M | 0.79 | 1.27 |
| 1976 | 2,653,2002.65M | 3,238,0503.24M | 0.82 | 1.22 |
| 1975 | 2,711,2002.71M | 3,189,5503.19M | 0.85 | 1.18 |
| 1974 | 2,844,5002.84M | 3,137,5003.14M | 0.91 | 1.10 |
| 1973 | 2,834,6002.83M | 3,085,9503.09M | 0.92 | 1.09 |
| 1972 | 2,862,0002.86M | 3,036,8503.04M | 0.94 | 1.06 |
| 1971 | 2,835,8002.84M | 2,992,0502.99M | 0.95 | 1.06 |
| 1970 | 2,788,2002.79M | 2,957,2502.96M | 0.94 | 1.06 |
| 1969 | 2,851,5002.85M | 2,932,6502.93M | 0.97 | 1.03 |
| 1968 | 2,990,2002.99M | 2,915,5502.92M | 1.03 | 0.98 |
| 1967 | 3,058,8003.06M | 2,902,4502.9M | 1.05 | 0.95 |
| 1966 | 3,464,0003.46M | 2,888,8002.89M | 1.20 | 0.83 |
| 1965 | 3,455,8003.46M | 2,877,3002.88M | 1.20 | 0.83 |
| 1964 | 3,386,5003.39M | 2,866,5502.87M | 1.18 | 0.85 |
| 1963 | 3,333,1003.33M | 2,852,6502.85M | 1.17 | 0.86 |
| 1962 | 3,375,9003.38M | 2,836,0502.84M | 1.19 | 0.84 |
| 1961 | 3,106,5003.11M | 2,824,4002.82M | 1.10 | 0.91 |
