25.7M
20215.08M
2021■ Sheep ■ People
Certified More Sheep Than People
Highest Sheep Pop.
70.3M
1982Lowest Sheep Pop.
25.7M
2021Max sheep per person
22.36
1981Min sheep per person
5.06
2021Summary
The sheep population of New Zealand fell from 48,462,304 in 1961 to 25,732,889 in 2021 — a 47% decrease over six decades. The flock peaked at 70,301,456 in 1982. In 2021, there were 5.1 sheep for every person.
Fun Sheep Fact
New Zealand has more sheep than people, with roughly 5 sheep for every human! These woolly residents are so important to the country that they're practically the real rulers, making the humans seem a bit sheepish about their government.
Sheep Population (1961-2021)
Sheep & People (% of combined)
Year by Year
| Year | Sheep | People | Sheep per person | Persons per sheep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,732,88925.7M | 5,084,6005.08M | 5.06 | 0.20 |
| 2020 | 26,028,93526M | 5,072,4005.07M | 5.13 | 0.19 |
| 2019 | 26,821,84626.8M | 4,970,3004.97M | 5.40 | 0.19 |
| 2018 | 27,295,74927.3M | 4,900,6004.9M | 5.57 | 0.18 |
| 2017 | 27,526,53727.5M | 4,813,6004.81M | 5.72 | 0.17 |
| 2016 | 27,583,67327.6M | 4,714,1004.71M | 5.85 | 0.17 |
| 2015 | 29,120,82729.1M | 4,609,4004.61M | 6.32 | 0.16 |
| 2014 | 29,803,40229.8M | 4,516,5004.52M | 6.60 | 0.15 |
| 2013 | 30,786,76130.8M | 4,442,1004.44M | 6.93 | 0.14 |
| 2012 | 31,262,71531.3M | 4,408,1004.41M | 7.09 | 0.14 |
| 2011 | 31,132,32831.1M | 4,384,0004.38M | 7.10 | 0.14 |
| 2010 | 32,562,61232.6M | 4,350,7004.35M | 7.48 | 0.13 |
| 2009 | 32,383,58832.4M | 4,302,6004.3M | 7.53 | 0.13 |
| 2008 | 34,087,86434.1M | 4,259,8004.26M | 8.00 | 0.12 |
| 2007 | 38,460,47638.5M | 4,223,8004.22M | 9.11 | 0.11 |
| 2006 | 40,081,59440.1M | 4,184,6004.18M | 9.58 | 0.10 |
| 2005 | 39,879,66039.9M | 4,133,9004.13M | 9.65 | 0.10 |
| 2004 | 39,271,33639.3M | 4,087,5004.09M | 9.61 | 0.10 |
| 2003 | 39,552,11239.6M | 4,027,2004.03M | 9.82 | 0.10 |
| 2002 | 39,572,00039.6M | 3,948,5003.95M | 10.02 | 0.10 |
| 2001 | 40,010,00040M | 3,880,5003.88M | 10.31 | 0.10 |
| 2000 | 42,260,00042.3M | 3,857,7003.86M | 10.95 | 0.09 |
| 1999 | 45,679,88845.7M | 3,835,1003.84M | 11.91 | 0.08 |
| 1998 | 44,400,00044.4M | 3,815,0003.82M | 11.64 | 0.09 |
| 1997 | 46,077,00046.1M | 3,781,3003.78M | 12.19 | 0.08 |
| 1996 | 47,393,90847.4M | 3,732,0003.73M | 12.70 | 0.08 |
| 1995 | 48,816,27248.8M | 3,673,4003.67M | 13.29 | 0.08 |
| 1994 | 49,466,05649.5M | 3,620,0003.62M | 13.66 | 0.07 |
| 1993 | 50,298,36050.3M | 3,572,2003.57M | 14.08 | 0.07 |
| 1992 | 52,568,00052.6M | 3,531,7003.53M | 14.88 | 0.07 |
| 1991 | 55,161,64855.2M | 3,495,1003.5M | 15.78 | 0.06 |
| 1990 | 57,852,19257.9M | 3,329,8003.33M | 17.37 | 0.06 |
| 1989 | 60,568,65660.6M | 3,299,2003.3M | 18.36 | 0.05 |
| 1988 | 64,600,08064.6M | 3,283,4003.28M | 19.67 | 0.05 |
| 1987 | 64,243,85664.2M | 3,274,4003.27M | 19.62 | 0.05 |
| 1986 | 67,469,52067.5M | 3,246,3003.25M | 20.78 | 0.05 |
| 1985 | 67,853,61667.9M | 3,247,1003.25M | 20.90 | 0.05 |
| 1984 | 69,739,00869.7M | 3,227,1003.23M | 21.61 | 0.05 |
| 1983 | 70,262,57670.3M | 3,199,3003.2M | 21.96 | 0.05 |
| 1982 | 70,301,45670.3M | 3,156,1003.16M | 22.27 | 0.04 |
| 1981 | 69,883,76069.9M | 3,124,9003.12M | 22.36 | 0.04 |
| 1980 | 68,771,77668.8M | 3,112,9003.11M | 22.09 | 0.05 |
| 1979 | 63,523,31263.5M | 3,109,0003.11M | 20.43 | 0.05 |
| 1978 | 62,162,86462.2M | 3,121,2003.12M | 19.92 | 0.05 |
| 1977 | 59,104,81659.1M | 3,120,2003.12M | 18.94 | 0.05 |
| 1976 | 56,400,38456.4M | 3,110,5003.11M | 18.13 | 0.06 |
| 1975 | 55,320,00055.3M | 3,083,1003.08M | 17.94 | 0.06 |
| 1974 | 55,883,00855.9M | 3,023,7003.02M | 18.48 | 0.05 |
| 1973 | 56,683,80856.7M | 2,961,3002.96M | 19.14 | 0.05 |
| 1972 | 60,882,72060.9M | 2,903,9002.9M | 20.97 | 0.05 |
| 1971 | 58,912,00058.9M | 2,853,0002.85M | 20.65 | 0.05 |
| 1970 | 60,276,11260.3M | 2,810,7002.81M | 21.45 | 0.05 |
| 1969 | 59,937,42459.9M | 2,772,8002.77M | 21.62 | 0.05 |
| 1968 | 60,473,60060.5M | 2,748,1002.75M | 22.01 | 0.05 |
| 1967 | 60,029,98460M | 2,724,1002.72M | 22.04 | 0.05 |
| 1966 | 57,343,26457.3M | 2,675,9002.68M | 21.43 | 0.05 |
| 1965 | 53,747,76053.7M | 2,628,4002.63M | 20.45 | 0.05 |
| 1964 | 51,291,80851.3M | 2,585,4002.59M | 19.84 | 0.05 |
| 1963 | 50,190,28850.2M | 2,531,8002.53M | 19.82 | 0.05 |
| 1962 | 48,988,00049M | 2,482,0002.48M | 19.74 | 0.05 |
| 1961 | 48,462,30448.5M | 2,419,7002.42M | 20.03 | 0.05 |
