Land animals slaughtered for meat in Australia
Australia: Land animals slaughtered for meat was 740.98 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
740.98 million
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
25th
of 199 countries
All-time high
740.98 million
in 2024
All-time low
36.32 million
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Land animals slaughtered for meat in Australia, 1961–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Australia recorded 740.98 million for land animals slaughtered for meat in 2024. That is the highest value across all 64 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 27.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land animals slaughtered for meat in Australia peaked at 740.98 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 36.32 million, in 1961.
Australia ranks 25th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land animals slaughtered for meat in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 36.32 million | — |
| 1962 | 36.55 million | +0.6% |
| 1963 | 37.34 million | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 43.65 million | +16.9% |
| 1965 | 53.45 million | +22.4% |
| 1966 | 57.15 million | +6.9% |
| 1967 | 71.84 million | +25.7% |
| 1968 | 81.76 million | +13.8% |
| 1969 | 81.20 million | -0.7% |
| 1970 | 91.33 million | +12.5% |
| 1971 | 111.49 million | +22.1% |
| 1972 | 122.10 million | +9.5% |
| 1973 | 121.15 million | -0.8% |
| 1974 | 147.66 million | +21.9% |
| 1975 | 142.78 million | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 152.04 million | +6.5% |
| 1977 | 163.30 million | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 183.58 million | +12.4% |
| 1979 | 197.00 million | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 231.05 million | +17.3% |
| 1981 | 230.62 million | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 213.97 million | -7.2% |
| 1983 | 235.04 million | +9.8% |
| 1984 | 224.17 million | -4.6% |
| 1985 | 252.00 million | +12.4% |
| 1986 | 265.42 million | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 275.59 million | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 277.95 million | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 274.12 million | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 285.51 million | +4.2% |
| 1991 | 283.70 million | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 293.51 million | +3.5% |
| 1993 | 304.13 million | +3.6% |
| 1994 | 329.52 million | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 330.50 million | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 336.38 million | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 356.90 million | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 372.83 million | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 360.00 million | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 394.00 million | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 397.24 million | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 428.21 million | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 418.27 million | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 435.65 million | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 432.90 million | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 444.82 million | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 458.57 million | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 462.83 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 468.71 million | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 512.17 million | +9.3% |
| 2011 | 546.76 million | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 559.45 million | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 572.09 million | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 579.88 million | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 590.62 million | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 623.28 million | +5.5% |
| 2017 | 652.68 million | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 635.87 million | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 652.75 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 658.26 million | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 677.63 million | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 700.82 million | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 724.65 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 740.98 million | +2.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 740.98 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 63.32 million, 11.7× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Australia's 740.98 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16.57 million, 44.7× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 55.47 million | 36.32 million | 81.76 million | 9 |
| 1970s | 143.24 million | 91.33 million | 197.00 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 247.99 million | 213.97 million | 277.95 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 325.30 million | 283.70 million | 372.83 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 434.12 million | 394.00 million | 468.71 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 592.55 million | 512.17 million | 652.75 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 700.47 million | 658.26 million | 740.98 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More agriculture & rural data for Australia
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.4449 % 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 1.16 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.2372 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 12.7 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0227 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,476 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.5855 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land animals slaughtered for meat in Australia?
- Land animals slaughtered for meat in Australia was 740.98 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land animals slaughtered for meat recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 740.98 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest land animals slaughtered for meat recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.32 million in 1961.
- How does Australia rank for land animals slaughtered for meat?
- Australia ranks 25th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is land animals slaughtered for meat rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Land animals slaughtered for meat. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).