1
Brazil
Brazil recorded 238,180,757 cattle in 2024, the largest herd in the world and about 43 million more than India.
Cattle (head): 238180757Region: South America
Top 10 Countries by Cattle Population in the World
The ten countries with the most cattle, ranked by 2024 cattle stocks from FAO livestock statistics: Brazil leads with 238.2 million head, ahead of India and the United States.
Quick answer
Brazil has the world's largest cattle herd, with 238.2 million head in 2024. India is second at 194.8 million and the United States third at 87.2 million. The ranking uses FAO 2024 cattle stock figures from the FAOSTAT bulk download (release of 23 December 2025); buffalo are a separate FAO item and are not included.
Two countries dominate the world's cattle herd: Brazil and India together held about 433 million head in 2024, roughly five times the third-ranked United States. The rest of the top 10 is three African countries (Ethiopia, Chad and Tanzania), mainland China, Pakistan, Argentina and Mexico. This list ranks countries by the number of live cattle recorded in 2024, for readers curious about where the world's cattle actually are.
Cattle stocks, 2024 (million head)
- 1 Brazil 238.2 million head
- 2 India 194.8 million head
- 3 United States 87.2 million head
- 4 Ethiopia 71.9 million head
- 5 China (mainland) 70.3 million head
- 6 Pakistan 57.5 million head
- 7 Argentina 52.8 million head
- 8 Chad 39.6 million head
- 9 Tanzania 39.1 million head
- 10 Mexico 36.9 million head
The ranking
2
India
India had 194,753,479 cattle in 2024, a figure FAOSTAT flags as imputed. FAO tallies buffalo separately, so India's large water buffalo population is not part of this figure.
Cattle (head): 194753479Region: South Asia
3
United States
The United States held 87,157,400 cattle in 2024, less than half of India's herd but well ahead of every other country.
Cattle (head): 87157400Region: North America
4
Ethiopia
Ethiopia had 71,916,930 cattle in 2024 (FAO-imputed), the largest herd in Africa.
Cattle (head): 71916930Region: East Africa
5
China (mainland)
Mainland China had 70,325,500 cattle in 2024 (an FAO estimate), about 1.6 million fewer than Ethiopia.
Cattle (head): 70325500Region: East Asia
6
Pakistan
Pakistan recorded 57,541,000 cattle in 2024, the second-largest herd in South Asia after India.
Cattle (head): 57541000Region: South Asia
7
Argentina
Argentina held 52,783,892 cattle in 2024, the second-largest herd in South America after Brazil.
Cattle (head): 52783892Region: South America
8
Chad
Chad had 39,625,902 cattle in 2024 (FAO-imputed), edging Tanzania by about 570,000 head.
Cattle (head): 39625902Region: Central Africa
9
Tanzania
Tanzania had 39,053,013 cattle in 2024 (FAO-imputed), the third African country in the top 10 after Ethiopia and Chad.
Cattle (head): 39053013Region: East Africa
10
Mexico
Mexico had 36,933,201 cattle in 2024 (FAO-imputed), about 5.7 million more than 11th-placed Sudan.
Cattle (head): 36933201Region: North America
Full comparison
| # | Name | Cattle (head) | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 238180757 | South America |
| 2 | India | 194753479 | South Asia |
| 3 | United States | 87157400 | North America |
| 4 | Ethiopia | 71916930 | East Africa |
| 5 | China (mainland) | 70325500 | East Asia |
| 6 | Pakistan | 57541000 | South Asia |
| 7 | Argentina | 52783892 | South America |
| 8 | Chad | 39625902 | Central Africa |
| 9 | Tanzania | 39053013 | East Africa |
| 10 | Mexico | 36933201 | North America |
How we ranked this
Ranked by 2024 cattle stocks (number of live animals) for the FAOSTAT item 'Cattle', element 'Stocks' (Production: Crops and livestock products), from the FAOSTAT bulk download (Production_Crops_Livestock, release of 23 December 2025). 2024 is the latest year in that release. One source, one year: every top-ten value is a 2024 figure. Metric values are head counts converted to millions and rounded to one decimal place; exact counts are shown in the facts. FAO records buffalo as a separate item, so India's buffalo herd (112,377,516 head in 2024, FAO-imputed) is not included. FAOSTAT flags the 2024 figures for India, Ethiopia, Chad, Tanzania and Mexico as imputed and mainland China's as estimated; the figures for Brazil, the United States, Pakistan and Argentina are flagged official. 'China' is mainland China; FAO's 'China' aggregate (which adds Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao) and regional and world totals are excluded. There are no ties; Sudan (31,256,148 head, FAO-imputed) ranks 11th.
FAQ
Which country has the most cattle?
Brazil, with 238,180,757 head in 2024 according to FAO data, followed by India with 194,753,479 head.
Does India's figure include buffalo?
No. FAO counts buffalo as a separate livestock item, so this list covers cattle only.
Which African countries have the most cattle?
Ethiopia (71,916,930 head), Chad (39,625,902) and Tanzania (39,053,013) all make the global top 10 in 2024; Sudan (31,256,148) is just outside it in 11th. All four figures are FAO-imputed.
Sources
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