June 4, 2024

Lower livestock populations in EU last year compared to 2022

The European Union's livestock populations in 2023 were lower than a year earlier, according to the European Commission.

Compared with 2022, the bloc's pig and bovine populations decreased by 1%, while sheep declined by 3% and goats by 5%.

In 2023, the EU had 133 million pigs, 74 million bovine animals, 58 million sheep and 11 million goats, based on provisional data on its livestock population published by Eurostat.

Over the past decade, the populations of all livestock species have declined. The population of bovine animals in the EU decreased the least, down by 5% compared with 2013, followed by pigs (down 6%).

While EU-level changes in pig populations last year as compared with 2022 were relatively modest, there were diverse developments among EU countries.

Croatia and Ireland recorded sharp decreases in their pig populations (-10% compared with 2022), whereas Bulgaria and Malta recorded even sharper increases (+21%).

- European Commission