21.5M
202161.5M
2021■ Sheep ■ People
More People Than Sheep
Highest Sheep Pop.
40.3M
1966Lowest Sheep Pop.
21.5M
2021Max sheep per person
2.24
1961Min sheep per person
0.35
2021Summary
The sheep population of South Africa fell from 37,897,008 in 1961 to 21,464,621 in 2021 — a 43% decrease over six decades. The flock peaked at 40,306,896 in 1966. In 2021, there was 1 sheep for every 2.9 people.
Fun Sheep Fact
South Africa's Dorper sheep are so tough they can survive in harsh desert conditions without needing much water, making them absolutely ewe-some at adapting! You could say they really know how to wool their way through any challenge.
Sheep Population (1961-2021)
Sheep & People (% of combined)
Year by Year
| Year | Sheep | People | Sheep per person | Persons per sheep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 21,464,62121.5M | 61,502,60361.5M | 0.35 | 2.87 |
| 2020 | 21,604,70821.6M | 60,562,38160.6M | 0.36 | 2.80 |
| 2019 | 22,085,20722.1M | 59,587,88559.6M | 0.37 | 2.70 |
| 2018 | 22,500,07222.5M | 58,613,00158.6M | 0.38 | 2.61 |
| 2017 | 22,688,93022.7M | 57,635,16257.6M | 0.39 | 2.54 |
| 2016 | 23,287,24723.3M | 57,259,55157.3M | 0.41 | 2.46 |
| 2015 | 23,937,98423.9M | 56,723,53756.7M | 0.42 | 2.37 |
| 2014 | 24,122,55824.1M | 55,594,83855.6M | 0.43 | 2.30 |
| 2013 | 24,527,67124.5M | 54,678,79154.7M | 0.45 | 2.23 |
| 2012 | 24,391,11224.4M | 53,782,56753.8M | 0.45 | 2.21 |
| 2011 | 24,302,77624.3M | 52,995,20553M | 0.46 | 2.18 |
| 2010 | 24,501,04424.5M | 52,344,05152.3M | 0.47 | 2.14 |
| 2009 | 24,989,03225M | 51,728,51651.7M | 0.48 | 2.07 |
| 2008 | 25,093,89625.1M | 51,114,59951.1M | 0.49 | 2.04 |
| 2007 | 25,082,10025.1M | 50,528,58450.5M | 0.50 | 2.01 |
| 2006 | 24,982,99625M | 49,998,27750M | 0.50 | 2.00 |
| 2005 | 25,334,00025.3M | 49,490,03349.5M | 0.51 | 1.95 |
| 2004 | 25,360,00025.4M | 48,991,42149M | 0.52 | 1.93 |
| 2003 | 25,820,00025.8M | 48,500,34848.5M | 0.53 | 1.88 |
| 2002 | 26,000,00026M | 48,019,41548M | 0.54 | 1.85 |
| 2001 | 28,800,00028.8M | 47,566,80047.6M | 0.61 | 1.65 |
| 2000 | 28,550,71628.6M | 47,159,71947.2M | 0.61 | 1.65 |
| 1999 | 28,680,27228.7M | 46,730,33546.7M | 0.61 | 1.63 |
| 1998 | 29,344,95629.3M | 46,223,88046.2M | 0.63 | 1.58 |
| 1997 | 29,186,53429.2M | 45,666,83845.7M | 0.64 | 1.56 |
| 1996 | 28,933,52428.9M | 45,123,01845.1M | 0.64 | 1.56 |
| 1995 | 28,784,32628.8M | 44,541,55444.5M | 0.65 | 1.55 |
| 1994 | 29,133,70029.1M | 44,004,13944M | 0.66 | 1.51 |
| 1993 | 28,929,90028.9M | 43,297,15643.3M | 0.67 | 1.50 |
| 1992 | 30,955,20031M | 42,443,50942.4M | 0.73 | 1.37 |
| 1991 | 32,580,00032.6M | 41,687,89841.7M | 0.78 | 1.28 |
| 1990 | 32,665,00832.7M | 40,746,26840.7M | 0.80 | 1.25 |
| 1989 | 30,935,00830.9M | 39,628,57539.6M | 0.78 | 1.28 |
| 1988 | 29,640,00029.6M | 38,480,64938.5M | 0.77 | 1.30 |
| 1987 | 29,753,00829.8M | 37,326,19037.3M | 0.80 | 1.25 |
| 1986 | 29,481,00829.5M | 36,180,51536.2M | 0.81 | 1.23 |
| 1985 | 30,256,00030.3M | 35,042,09335M | 0.86 | 1.16 |
| 1984 | 31,265,00831.3M | 33,892,78833.9M | 0.92 | 1.08 |
| 1983 | 33,202,00033.2M | 32,739,30432.7M | 1.01 | 0.99 |
| 1982 | 34,195,00834.2M | 31,615,33931.6M | 1.08 | 0.92 |
| 1981 | 31,650,00031.7M | 30,541,04430.5M | 1.04 | 0.96 |
| 1980 | 31,641,00831.6M | 29,518,85729.5M | 1.07 | 0.93 |
| 1979 | 31,585,21631.6M | 28,634,16228.6M | 1.10 | 0.91 |
| 1978 | 32,001,50432M | 27,869,50727.9M | 1.15 | 0.87 |
| 1977 | 31,961,28032M | 27,118,95227.1M | 1.18 | 0.85 |
| 1976 | 31,001,00831M | 26,395,45026.4M | 1.17 | 0.85 |
| 1975 | 30,988,80031M | 25,690,94025.7M | 1.21 | 0.83 |
| 1974 | 30,295,96830.3M | 24,989,10825M | 1.21 | 0.82 |
| 1973 | 30,742,00030.7M | 24,294,26324.3M | 1.27 | 0.79 |
| 1972 | 30,237,00830.2M | 23,609,45623.6M | 1.28 | 0.78 |
| 1971 | 33,122,91233.1M | 22,942,14322.9M | 1.44 | 0.69 |
| 1970 | 34,286,00034.3M | 22,279,98422.3M | 1.54 | 0.65 |
| 1969 | 39,346,99239.3M | 21,614,67621.6M | 1.82 | 0.55 |
| 1968 | 39,543,61639.5M | 20,957,28721M | 1.89 | 0.53 |
| 1967 | 38,826,03238.8M | 20,314,06620.3M | 1.91 | 0.52 |
| 1966 | 40,306,89640.3M | 19,690,08719.7M | 2.05 | 0.49 |
| 1965 | 37,000,00037M | 19,089,38019.1M | 1.94 | 0.52 |
| 1964 | 36,675,00836.7M | 18,511,36118.5M | 1.98 | 0.50 |
| 1963 | 38,000,00038M | 17,954,56418M | 2.12 | 0.47 |
| 1962 | 38,000,00038M | 17,418,52217.4M | 2.18 | 0.46 |
| 1961 | 37,897,00837.9M | 16,908,03516.9M | 2.24 | 0.45 |
