Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in India
India: Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat was 10.30 million animals in 1990. ▲ Rising
Latest (1990)
10.30 million animals
Change on year
down 5.1%
World rank
7th
of 198 countries
All-time high
10.98 million animals
in 1987
All-time low
6.32 million animals
in 1961
Years of data
30
1961–1990
Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in India, 1961–1990
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in animals.
Analysis
India recorded 10.30 million animals for yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in 1990.
The figure is down 5.1% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in India peaked at 10.98 million animals in 1987 and was at its lowest, 6.32 million animals, in 1961.
India ranks 7th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in India, year by year
| Year | animals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 6.32 million animals | — |
| 1962 | 6.43 million animals | +1.8% |
| 1963 | 6.61 million animals | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 6.68 million animals | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 6.86 million animals | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 7.00 million animals | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 7.23 million animals | +3.3% |
| 1968 | 7.42 million animals | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 7.60 million animals | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 7.80 million animals | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 8.00 million animals | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 8.00 million animals | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 8.20 million animals | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 8.39 million animals | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 8.61 million animals | +2.7% |
| 1976 | 8.84 million animals | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 9.01 million animals | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 9.10 million animals | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 9.40 million animals | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 9.70 million animals | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 9.81 million animals | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 10.49 million animals | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 10.66 million animals | +1.6% |
| 1984 | 10.73 million animals | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 10.40 million animals | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 10.31 million animals | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 10.98 million animals | +6.5% |
| 1988 | 10.92 million animals | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 10.85 million animals | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 10.30 million animals | -5.1% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 10.30 million animals is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 424,850 animals, 24.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- India's 10.30 million animals is above the median for South Asia, which is 484,000 animals, 21.3× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.91 million animals | 6.32 million animals | 7.60 million animals | 9 |
| 1970s | 8.54 million animals | 7.80 million animals | 9.40 million animals | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.49 million animals | 9.70 million animals | 10.98 million animals | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.30 million animals | 10.30 million animals | 10.30 million animals | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More agriculture & rural data for India
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -2.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1623 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 438.73 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4067 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6431 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 16.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 16.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in India?
- Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in India was 10.30 million animals in 1990, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 10.98 million animals in 1987.
- What is the lowest yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.32 million animals in 1961.
- How does India rank for yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat?
- India ranks 7th out of 198 countries with data for 1990.
- Is yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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