Cattle livestock count heads in China
China: Cattle livestock count heads was 70.33 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
70.33 million
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
6th
of 197 countries
All-time high
108.76 million
in 1996
All-time low
46.76 million
in 1962
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Cattle livestock count heads in China, 1961–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cattle livestock count heads in China is 70.33 million, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and up 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cattle livestock count heads in China peaked at 108.76 million in 1996 and was at its lowest, 46.76 million, in 1962.
China ranks 6th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 64 years of available data.
Cattle livestock count heads in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 49.40 million | — |
| 1962 | 46.76 million | -5.3% |
| 1963 | 47.36 million | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 48.94 million | +3.3% |
| 1965 | 52.42 million | +7.1% |
| 1966 | 53.57 million | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 55.95 million | +4.4% |
| 1968 | 56.86 million | +1.6% |
| 1969 | 57.72 million | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 57.50 million | -0.4% |
| 1971 | 57.50 million | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 57.49 million | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 57.00 million | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 56.68 million | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 56.55 million | -0.2% |
| 1976 | 55.55 million | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 53.83 million | -3.1% |
| 1978 | 52.72 million | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 52.53 million | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 52.41 million | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 52.52 million | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 53.83 million | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 56.93 million | +5.7% |
| 1984 | 58.94 million | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 62.62 million | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 66.89 million | +6.8% |
| 1987 | 70.85 million | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 73.09 million | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 76.11 million | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 77.77 million | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 81.19 million | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 82.59 million | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 85.64 million | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 90.76 million | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 100.41 million | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 108.76 million | +8.3% |
| 1997 | 90.68 million | -16.6% |
| 1998 | 99.28 million | +9.5% |
| 1999 | 101.75 million | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 104.40 million | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 100.77 million | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 95.41 million | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 92.95 million | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 92.06 million | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 89.99 million | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 87.41 million | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 81.93 million | -6.3% |
| 2008 | 82.68 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 70.25 million | -15.0% |
| 2010 | 68.74 million | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 65.69 million | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 63.96 million | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 62.90 million | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 62.90 million | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 63.05 million | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 63.39 million | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 61.84 million | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 63.27 million | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 63.97 million | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 66.93 million | +4.6% |
| 2021 | 68.72 million | +2.7% |
| 2022 | 71.51 million | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 73.56 million | +2.9% |
| 2024 | 70.33 million | -4.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 70.33 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 918,057, 76.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 70.33 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 650,522, 108.1× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 52.11 million | 46.76 million | 57.72 million | 9 |
| 1970s | 55.73 million | 52.53 million | 57.50 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 62.42 million | 52.41 million | 76.11 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 91.88 million | 77.77 million | 108.76 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 89.79 million | 70.25 million | 104.40 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.97 million | 61.84 million | 68.74 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 70.21 million | 66.93 million | 73.56 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0314 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0951 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0082 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.3742 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is cattle livestock count heads in China?
- Cattle livestock count heads in China was 70.33 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cattle livestock count heads recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 108.76 million in 1996.
- What is the lowest cattle livestock count heads recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.76 million in 1962.
- How does China rank for cattle livestock count heads?
- China ranks 6th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cattle livestock count heads rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Cattle livestock count heads. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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