Daily number of animals slaughtered for meat in China
China: Daily number of animals slaughtered for meat was 125,721 animals in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
125,721 animals
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
1st
of 198 countries
All-time high
125,721 animals
in 2024
All-time low
1,386 animals
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Daily number of animals slaughtered for meat in China, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in animals.
Analysis
In 2024, daily number of animals slaughtered for meat in China stood at 125,721 animals. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, daily number of animals slaughtered for meat in China peaked at 125,721 animals in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1,386 animals, in 1961.
That places China 1st out of 198 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Daily number of animals slaughtered for meat in China, year by year
| Year | animals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,386 animals | — |
| 1962 | 1,890 animals | +36.4% |
| 1963 | 2,534 animals | +34.1% |
| 1964 | 2,836 animals | +11.9% |
| 1965 | 3,178 animals | +12.1% |
| 1966 | 3,452 animals | +8.6% |
| 1967 | 3,589 animals | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 3,589 animals | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 3,644 animals | +1.5% |
| 1970 | 3,644 animals | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 4,110 animals | +12.8% |
| 1972 | 4,411 animals | +7.3% |
| 1973 | 4,849 animals | +9.9% |
| 1974 | 5,137 animals | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 5,342 animals | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 5,055 animals | -5.4% |
| 1977 | 5,342 animals | +5.7% |
| 1978 | 5,342 animals | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 6,096 animals | +14.1% |
| 1980 | 6,822 animals | +11.9% |
| 1981 | 6,740 animals | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 6,849 animals | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 7,288 animals | +6.4% |
| 1984 | 8,384 animals | +15.0% |
| 1985 | 9,452 animals | +12.7% |
| 1986 | 12,055 animals | +27.5% |
| 1987 | 14,247 animals | +18.2% |
| 1988 | 15,732 animals | +10.4% |
| 1989 | 17,901 animals | +13.8% |
| 1990 | 20,674 animals | +15.5% |
| 1991 | 23,918 animals | +15.7% |
| 1992 | 27,353 animals | +14.4% |
| 1993 | 33,633 animals | +23.0% |
| 1994 | 43,464 animals | +29.2% |
| 1995 | 50,258 animals | +15.6% |
| 1996 | 56,219 animals | +11.9% |
| 1997 | 72,049 animals | +28.2% |
| 1998 | 80,074 animals | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 83,836 animals | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 88,890 animals | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 90,872 animals | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 93,408 animals | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 99,910 animals | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 104,005 animals | +4.1% |
| 2005 | 105,611 animals | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 108,014 animals | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 111,027 animals | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 113,427 animals | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 105,837 animals | -6.7% |
| 2010 | 106,478 animals | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 103,577 animals | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 104,037 animals | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 103,313 animals | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 103,572 animals | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 103,844 animals | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 105,163 animals | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 107,020 animals | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 108,431 animals | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 111,794 animals | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 112,573 animals | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 116,074 animals | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 119,340 animals | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 123,867 animals | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 125,721 animals | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,900 animals | 1,386 animals | 3,644 animals | 9 |
| 1970s | 4,933 animals | 3,644 animals | 6,096 animals | 10 |
| 1980s | 10,547 animals | 6,740 animals | 17,901 animals | 10 |
| 1990s | 49,148 animals | 20,674 animals | 83,836 animals | 10 |
| 2000s | 102,100 animals | 88,890 animals | 113,427 animals | 10 |
| 2010s | 105,723 animals | 103,313 animals | 111,794 animals | 10 |
| 2020s | 119,515 animals | 112,573 animals | 125,721 animals | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More agriculture & rural data for China
- 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)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is daily number of animals slaughtered for meat in China?
- Daily number of animals slaughtered for meat in China was 125,721 animals in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest daily number of animals slaughtered for meat recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 125,721 animals in 2024.
- What is the lowest daily number of animals slaughtered for meat recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,386 animals in 1961.
- How does China rank for daily number of animals slaughtered for meat?
- China ranks 1st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is daily number of animals slaughtered for meat rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 Daily number of animals slaughtered for meat. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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