2.24M
202110.4M
2021■ Sheep ■ People
More People Than Sheep
Highest Sheep Pop.
5.78M
1967Lowest Sheep Pop.
2.03M
2014Max sheep per person
0.65
1967Min sheep per person
0.20
2014Summary
The sheep population of Portugal fell from 5,029,000 in 1961 to 2,237,970 in 2021 — a 55% decrease over six decades. The flock peaked at 5,784,425 in 1967. In 2021, there was 1 sheep for every 4.6 people.
Fun Sheep Fact
Portugal has a special breed called the Merino sheep that produces incredibly soft wool. These woolly wanderers have been helping keep Portuguese shepherds warm for centuries, and you could say they really raise the baa-r for quality fleece!
Sheep Population (1961-2021)
Sheep & People (% of combined)
Year by Year
| Year | Sheep | People | Sheep per person | Persons per sheep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,237,9702.24M | 10,361,83110.4M | 0.22 | 4.63 |
| 2020 | 2,303,7202.3M | 10,297,08110.3M | 0.22 | 4.47 |
| 2019 | 2,219,7802.22M | 10,286,26310.3M | 0.22 | 4.63 |
| 2018 | 2,207,7902.21M | 10,283,82210.3M | 0.21 | 4.66 |
| 2017 | 2,225,0002.23M | 10,300,30010.3M | 0.22 | 4.63 |
| 2016 | 2,068,0002.07M | 10,325,45210.3M | 0.20 | 4.99 |
| 2015 | 2,043,0002.04M | 10,358,07610.4M | 0.20 | 5.07 |
| 2014 | 2,033,0002.03M | 10,401,06210.4M | 0.20 | 5.12 |
| 2013 | 2,074,0002.07M | 10,457,29510.5M | 0.20 | 5.04 |
| 2012 | 2,092,0002.09M | 10,514,84410.5M | 0.20 | 5.03 |
| 2011 | 2,170,0002.17M | 10,557,56010.6M | 0.21 | 4.87 |
| 2010 | 2,226,0002.23M | 10,573,10010.6M | 0.21 | 4.75 |
| 2009 | 2,368,0002.37M | 10,568,24710.6M | 0.22 | 4.46 |
| 2008 | 2,558,0002.56M | 10,558,17710.6M | 0.24 | 4.13 |
| 2007 | 2,703,0002.7M | 10,542,96410.5M | 0.26 | 3.90 |
| 2006 | 2,839,0002.84M | 10,522,28810.5M | 0.27 | 3.71 |
| 2005 | 2,903,0002.9M | 10,503,33010.5M | 0.28 | 3.62 |
| 2004 | 2,868,0002.87M | 10,483,86110.5M | 0.27 | 3.66 |
| 2003 | 2,775,0002.78M | 10,458,82110.5M | 0.27 | 3.77 |
| 2002 | 2,812,0002.81M | 10,419,63110.4M | 0.27 | 3.71 |
| 2001 | 2,842,0002.84M | 10,362,72210.4M | 0.27 | 3.65 |
| 2000 | 3,584,0003.58M | 10,289,89810.3M | 0.35 | 2.87 |
| 1999 | 3,590,0003.59M | 10,217,82810.2M | 0.35 | 2.85 |
| 1998 | 3,432,0003.43M | 10,160,19610.2M | 0.34 | 2.96 |
| 1997 | 3,486,0003.49M | 10,108,97710.1M | 0.34 | 2.90 |
| 1996 | 3,482,0003.48M | 10,063,94510.1M | 0.35 | 2.89 |
| 1995 | 3,475,0003.48M | 10,026,17610M | 0.35 | 2.89 |
| 1994 | 3,345,0003.35M | 9,991,5259.99M | 0.33 | 2.99 |
| 1993 | 3,359,0003.36M | 9,964,6759.96M | 0.34 | 2.97 |
| 1992 | 3,381,0003.38M | 9,952,4949.95M | 0.34 | 2.94 |
| 1991 | 3,359,0003.36M | 9,960,2359.96M | 0.34 | 2.97 |
| 1990 | 3,347,0003.35M | 9,983,2189.98M | 0.34 | 2.98 |
| 1989 | 3,187,0003.19M | 10,005,00010M | 0.32 | 3.14 |
| 1988 | 3,035,0003.04M | 10,019,61010M | 0.30 | 3.30 |
| 1987 | 3,000,0003M | 10,030,03110M | 0.30 | 3.34 |
| 1986 | 3,000,0003M | 10,032,73410M | 0.30 | 3.34 |
| 1985 | 3,200,0003.2M | 10,023,61310M | 0.32 | 3.13 |
| 1984 | 3,300,0003.3M | 9,996,23210M | 0.33 | 3.03 |
| 1983 | 4,800,0004.8M | 9,957,8659.96M | 0.48 | 2.07 |
| 1982 | 4,780,0004.78M | 9,911,7719.91M | 0.48 | 2.07 |
| 1981 | 4,520,0004.52M | 9,851,3629.85M | 0.46 | 2.18 |
| 1980 | 4,560,0004.56M | 9,766,3129.77M | 0.47 | 2.14 |
| 1979 | 4,240,0004.24M | 9,661,2659.66M | 0.44 | 2.28 |
| 1978 | 4,900,0004.9M | 9,558,2509.56M | 0.51 | 1.95 |
| 1977 | 3,850,0003.85M | 9,455,6759.46M | 0.41 | 2.46 |
| 1976 | 3,800,0003.8M | 9,355,8109.36M | 0.41 | 2.46 |
| 1975 | 3,900,0003.9M | 9,093,4709.09M | 0.43 | 2.33 |
| 1974 | 4,071,1504.07M | 8,754,3658.75M | 0.47 | 2.15 |
| 1973 | 4,155,0004.16M | 8,633,1008.63M | 0.48 | 2.08 |
| 1972 | 3,920,4003.92M | 8,630,4308.63M | 0.45 | 2.20 |
| 1971 | 3,971,1003.97M | 8,643,7568.64M | 0.46 | 2.18 |
| 1970 | 4,421,8004.42M | 8,680,4318.68M | 0.51 | 1.96 |
| 1969 | 4,823,5004.82M | 8,757,7058.76M | 0.55 | 1.82 |
| 1968 | 5,324,2005.32M | 8,836,6508.84M | 0.60 | 1.66 |
| 1967 | 5,784,4255.78M | 8,874,5208.87M | 0.65 | 1.53 |
| 1966 | 5,709,3035.71M | 8,930,9908.93M | 0.64 | 1.56 |
| 1965 | 5,607,8815.61M | 8,998,5959M | 0.62 | 1.60 |
| 1964 | 5,088,0005.09M | 9,035,3659.04M | 0.56 | 1.78 |
| 1963 | 5,029,2885.03M | 9,030,3559.03M | 0.56 | 1.80 |
| 1962 | 5,049,0005.05M | 8,993,9858.99M | 0.56 | 1.78 |
| 1961 | 5,029,0005.03M | 8,929,3168.93M | 0.56 | 1.78 |
