United Kingdom Sheep Population 1961–2021

33M

2021

67M

2021

■ Sheep ■ People

More People Than Sheep

Highest Sheep Pop.

44.7M

1999

Lowest Sheep Pop.

19.9M

1977

Max sheep per person

0.77

1992

Min sheep per person

0.35

1977

Summary

The sheep population of United Kingdom grew from 29,069,936 in 1961 to 32,957,000 in 2021 — a 13% increase over six decades. The flock peaked at 44,656,000 in 1999. In 2021, there was 1 sheep for every 2.0 people.

Fun Sheep Fact

The UK has around 30 million sheep, making it one of Europe’s biggest sheep farming nations, though there are still more people than sheep! British breeds like the Scottish Blackface are famous for their wool and hardiness, so Britain is definitely shear-ious about sheep!

Sheep Population (1961-2021)

Sheep & People (% of combined)

Year by Year

Year	Sheep	People	Sheep per person	Persons per sheep
2021	32,957,00033M	66,984,00067M	0.49	2.03
2020	32,697,00032.7M	66,744,00066.7M	0.49	2.04
2019	33,580,00033.6M	66,631,00066.6M	0.50	1.98
2018	33,781,00033.8M	66,289,00066.3M	0.51	1.96
2017	34,832,00034.8M	65,966,00066M	0.53	1.89
2016	33,943,00033.9M	65,607,00065.6M	0.52	1.93
2015	33,337,00033.3M	65,088,00065.1M	0.51	1.95
2014	33,743,00033.7M	64,620,00064.6M	0.52	1.92
2013	32,856,00032.9M	64,139,00064.1M	0.51	1.95
2012	32,215,00032.2M	63,711,00063.7M	0.51	1.98
2011	31,634,00031.6M	63,258,81063.3M	0.50	2.00
2010	31,084,00031.1M	62,766,36562.8M	0.50	2.02
2009	31,445,00031.4M	62,276,27062.3M	0.50	1.98
2008	33,131,00033.1M	61,806,99561.8M	0.54	1.87
2007	33,946,00033.9M	61,322,46361.3M	0.55	1.81
2006	34,722,00034.7M	60,846,82060.8M	0.57	1.75
2005	35,253,04835.3M	60,401,20660.4M	0.58	1.71
2004	35,848,00035.8M	59,987,90560M	0.60	1.67
2003	35,846,00035.8M	59,647,57759.6M	0.60	1.66
2002	35,834,28035.8M	59,370,47959.4M	0.60	1.66
2001	36,716,00036.7M	59,119,67359.1M	0.62	1.61
2000	42,264,00042.3M	58,892,51458.9M	0.72	1.39
1999	44,656,00044.7M	58,682,46658.7M	0.76	1.31
1998	44,471,00044.5M	58,487,14158.5M	0.76	1.32
1997	42,823,00042.8M	58,316,95458.3M	0.73	1.36
1996	42,086,00042.1M	58,166,95058.2M	0.72	1.38
1995	43,304,00043.3M	58,019,03058M	0.75	1.34
1994	43,813,00043.8M	57,865,74557.9M	0.76	1.32
1993	44,436,00044.4M	57,718,61457.7M	0.77	1.30
1992	44,540,00044.5M	57,580,40257.6M	0.77	1.29
1991	43,639,00043.6M	57,424,89757.4M	0.76	1.32
1990	43,828,00043.8M	57,247,58657.2M	0.77	1.31
1989	43,012,00043M	57,076,71157.1M	0.75	1.33
1988	41,028,00041M	56,928,32756.9M	0.72	1.39
1987	38,776,00038.8M	56,802,05056.8M	0.68	1.46
1986	37,031,00037M	56,681,39656.7M	0.65	1.53
1985	23,946,00023.9M	56,550,26856.6M	0.42	2.36
1984	23,317,00823.3M	56,422,07256.4M	0.41	2.42
1983	22,944,00022.9M	56,332,84856.3M	0.41	2.46
1982	22,200,00022.2M	56,313,64156.3M	0.39	2.54
1981	21,604,00021.6M	56,333,82956.3M	0.38	2.61
1980	21,609,00821.6M	56,314,21656.3M	0.38	2.61
1979	21,715,00821.7M	56,246,95156.2M	0.39	2.59
1978	20,567,00820.6M	56,196,50456.2M	0.37	2.73
1977	19,942,00019.9M	56,193,49256.2M	0.35	2.82
1976	28,265,00828.3M	56,211,96856.2M	0.50	1.99
1975	28,364,00028.4M	56,225,80056.2M	0.50	1.98
1974	28,605,00828.6M	56,229,97456.2M	0.51	1.97
1973	28,049,50428M	56,194,52756.2M	0.50	2.00
1972	26,983,00827M	56,086,06556.1M	0.48	2.08
1971	26,088,60826.1M	55,896,22355.9M	0.47	2.14
1970	26,189,88826.2M	55,663,25055.7M	0.47	2.13
1969	26,717,26426.7M	55,441,75055.4M	0.48	2.08
1968	28,123,93628.1M	55,211,70055.2M	0.51	1.96
1967	29,007,92029M	54,943,60054.9M	0.53	1.89
1966	30,079,52030.1M	54,648,50054.6M	0.55	1.82
1965	30,029,10430M	54,348,05054.3M	0.55	1.81
1964	29,773,58429.8M	54,000,00054M	0.55	1.81
1963	29,454,30429.5M	53,650,00053.7M	0.55	1.82
1962	29,604,48029.6M	53,250,00053.3M	0.56	1.80
1961	29,069,93629.1M	52,800,00052.8M	0.55	1.82

United Wool-dom

Highest Sheep Pop.

Lowest Sheep Pop.

Max sheep per person

Min sheep per person

Summary

Fun Sheep Fact

Sheep Population (1961-2021)

Sheep & People (% of combined)

Year by Year

Sweden

Dominican Republic

Chad

Nepal

New Zealand

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