10 World’s Biggest Sheep Meat-Producing Countries in 2022
10 World’s Biggest Sheep Meat-Producing
Countries– There are 10 World’s
Biggest Sheep Meat-Producing Countries in 2022 according to the data from the
FAO Statistical Database (FAOSTAT). These countries certainly have abundant
sheep meat production. With the huge production of sheep meat, these countries
can fulfill the meat consumption of their citizens and some of the meat producers export their meat
production to foreign countries.
In general, sheep are classified as ruminants that can give fur and meat in relation to human needs. Taxonomically, sheep are classified in Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata (animals with backbones); Class: Mammalia (mammals); Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates); Family: Bovidae (ruminants); Genus: Ovis; Species: Ovis aries. Based on the species, there are many breeds of sheep aimed at meat production, namely Suffolk, Hampshire, Shropshire, Poll Dorset, Dorper, Texel, Katahdin, Montadale, Shropshire, Rambouillet, and Southdown.
The World’s Production of Sheep Meat From 1980 to 2022
|
|
|
|
Years |
World’s
Production of Sheep Meat |
|
|
(Tons) |
|
1980 |
5,646,954 |
|
1981 |
5,866,418 |
|
1982 |
5,887,437 |
|
1983 |
6,080,793 |
|
1984 |
6,101,586 |
|
1985 |
6,220,066 |
|
1986 |
6,222,780 |
|
1987 |
6,351,337 |
|
1988 |
6,650,744 |
|
1989 |
6,834,924 |
|
1990 |
7,032,989 |
|
1991 |
6,936,762 |
|
1992 |
6,931,468 |
|
1993 |
6,934,888 |
|
1994 |
7,034,910 |
|
1995 |
6,990,305 |
|
1996 |
6,837,010 |
|
1997 |
7,005,085 |
|
1998 |
7,249,328 |
|
1999 |
7,306,892 |
|
2000 |
7,474,877 |
|
2001 |
7,608,596 |
|
2002 |
7,490,585 |
|
2003 |
7,626,521 |
|
2004 |
7,763,578 |
|
2005 |
8,002,911 |
|
2006 |
8,210,304 |
|
2007 |
8,529,027 |
|
2008 |
8,455,076 |
|
2009 |
8,438,058 |
|
2010 |
8,385,393 |
|
2011 |
8,482,347 |
|
2012 |
8,502,038 |
|
2013 |
8,747,214 |
|
2014 |
8,991,203 |
|
2015 |
9,239,323 |
|
2016 |
9,395,001 |
|
2017 |
9,413,962 |
|
2018 |
9,529,469 |
|
2019 |
9,603,353 |
|
2020 |
9,817,036 |
|
2021 |
9,959,867 |
|
2022 |
10,272,315 |
|
Source: FAOSTAT, 2024 |
|
Globally, the production of sheep meat has increased over time.
According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the world’s
production of sheep meat in 1980 was around 5.6 million tons. Furthermore in
2021, the world’s production of sheep meat reached 9.9 million tons. For almost
40 years, there has been additional production of around 4.3 million tons.
Basically, the growth of human populations has driven the increasing production
of sheep meat production from time to time.
Based on data from FAO in 2022, the world’s sheep meat production is still
concentrated on the continents of Asia and Africa. Sheep meat production in
Asia is about 5.6 million tons (55% of the world’s total sheep meat
production), followed by Africa about 1.9 million tons (19% of total world sheep
meat production), Europe at 1.09 million tons (11% of
the world’s total sheep meat production), Oceania 1.14 million tons (11% of the
world’s total sheep meat production).
The Production of Sheep Meat Based on Continent in 2022
|
|
|
|
Continent |
Production
of Sheep Meat in 2022 |
|
|
(Tons) |
|
Africa |
1,965,694 |
|
Americas |
422,830 |
|
Asia |
5,644,205 |
|
Europe |
1,095,456 |
|
Oceania |
1,144,130 |
|
Source: FAOSTAT, 2024 |
|
When viewed from the production of sheep worldwide, of course,
there are several countries with the largest production of sheep meat in the
world. They produce sheep meat because of the high demand for domestic sheep
meat consumption. Based on statistical data reported by the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2024, there will
be 10 World’s
Biggest Sheep Meat-producing countries in 2022.
Table Rank of 10 World’s Sheep Meat-Producing Countries in 2022
|
Rank |
Country |
Meat Production of Sheep in 2022 |
|
(Tons) |
||
|
1 |
China, mainland |
2,678,492 |
|
2 |
Australia |
706,905 |
|
3 |
Türkiye |
489,354 |
|
4 |
New Zealand |
436,975 |
|
5 |
Algeria |
344,937 |
|
6 |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
291,000 |
|
7 |
India |
280,395 |
|
8 |
Sudan |
273,927 |
|
9 |
Iran (Islamic Republic of) |
254,832 |
|
10 |
Pakistan |
250,000 |
|
Source : FAOSTAT, 2024 |
||
Brief Description of the 10 World’s Biggest Sheep Meat-Producing Countries in 2022
1.China
China is the world’s biggest producer of sheep. In 2022, based on
data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations (UN),
sheep meat production in this country reached 2,678,492 tons. In this country,
statistically, there are several provinces that are centers of Chinese sheep meat production. These
provinces include Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Shandong. Sheep production in 2014 is
estimated at 900 thousand tons, followed by Xinjian at 500 thousand tons, and
Shandong at around 340 thousand tons. Genetically, there are some popular
species of sheep as meat production in China, namely Small-tailed Han, Huang-huai, Mongolian, and Fat-tailed sheep.
2. Australia
Australia is the 2nd biggest sheep meat-producing
country in the world. In 2022, based on data from the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the United Nations (UN), sheep meat production in this
country reached 706,905 tons. In this land of kangaroos, there were an
estimated 65.8 million sheep in Australia in 2018–19. Geographically, the
distribution of the sheep population is spread across several states, but most
of the Australian sheep population is in New South Wales (34%), Western Australia (22%), Victoria (21%) and South Australia (16%). This large
production of sheep is also exported to several countries such as China,
Singapore, Saudi Arabia, to the United States
3. Türkiye
Türkiye is the 3rd biggest sheep meat-producing
country in the world. In 2022, based on data from the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the United Nations (UN), sheep meat production in this
country reached 489,354 tons. In this country, there are several types of sheep
breeds that are famous and widely used for
meat production including The White Karaman, The Red Karaman, Dağlıç, Awassi, and Karakul.
4. New Zealand
New Zealand is the 4th largest sheep
meat-producing country in the world. In 2022, according to data from the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations (UN), sheep meat
production in this country reached 436,975 tons. Historically, sheep were
introduced to New Zealand between 1773 and 1777 with credit to James
Cook, the British explorer. From time to time, the population of sheep
thrives to this day. Geographically, there are several sheep farming centers in
the country centered on the Wairarapa, Canterbury Plains, and Otago regions. In addition, in terms of genetics, there
are several types of superior sheep breeds that are widely raised in this
country, namely Corriedale, Zealand
Romney, and Coopworth.
5. Algeria
Algeria is the 5th largest sheep meat-producing
country in the world. In 2022, based on data from the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the United Nations (UN), sheep meat production in this
country reached 344,937 tons. In this country based on data from Statista, in
2018, the sheep population is estimated at 28 million. Genetically, Algerian sheep (Ouled Jellal) is one of
the most popular sheep breeds in Algeria for meat production.
The United Kingdom is the 6th largest sheep
meat-producing country in the world. In 2021, based on data from the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations (UN), sheep meat production
in this country reached 291,000 tons. In United Kingdom, there are several main
types of sheep for meat production, namely Suffolk, Texel, Dorset Down, Hampshire, and Manx Loaghtan.
7. India
India is the 7th biggest sheep-producing country
in the world. In 2022, based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), the United Nations (UN), sheep meat production in this country reached
280,395 tons. Several types of sheep are raised in Mahatma Gandhi’s home
country, including Mecheri, Chennai red,
Ramanadhapuram white, Meleagris and Coimbatore, and several other types of
sheep scattered in various regions in India.
8. Sudan
Sudan is the 8th biggest sheep-producing country
in the world. In 2022, based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), the United Nations (UN), the production of sheep in this country reached
273,927 tons. In the country of Sudan, there are several acres for slaughtering
sheep, namely El Kadaro, JIMC, Nyala, Ghanawah, Sabaloga.
9.Iran
Iran is the 9th biggest country producer in the
world. In 2022, based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
the United Nations (UN), the production of sheep in this country reached
254,832 tons. In this country, there are
10. Pakistan
Pakistan is the world’s 10th biggest sheep meat
producer. In 2022, based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), the United Nations (UN), sheep meat production in this country reached
250,000 tons. In Pakistan, there are several types of sheep that are cultivated,
namely Balkhi, Baluchi, Bibrik, Damani, Kajli, Kooka, Lohi, and Waziri.
The Summary of 10 Largest Sheep-Producing Countries in the World in 2022
Bibliography of 10 Largest Sheep-Producing Countries in the World in 2022
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Mao, Yanwei & Hopkins, David & Zhang, Yimin & Luo,
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