Bovine population in France
France: Bovine population was 16,395 Thousand heads (animals) in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
16,395 Thousand heads (animals)
Change on year
down 2.4%
World rank
2nd
of 36 countries
All-time high
24,631 Thousand heads (animals)
in 1979
All-time low
16,395 Thousand heads (animals)
in 2025
Years of data
48
1978–2025
Bovine population in France, 1978–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand heads (animals).
Analysis
In 2025, bovine population in France stood at 16,395 Thousand heads (animals). That is the lowest value across all 48 years on record.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, bovine population in France peaked at 24,631 Thousand heads (animals) in 1979 and was at its lowest, 16,395 Thousand heads (animals), in 2025.
France ranks 2nd of 36 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Bovine population in France, year by year
| Year | Thousand heads (animals) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 24,429 Thousand heads (animals) | — |
| 1979 | 24,631 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 24,522 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 24,550 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 24,533 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 24,338 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.8% |
| 1984 | 24,220 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 23,688 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 23,570 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 22,274 Thousand heads (animals) | -5.5% |
| 1988 | 21,003 Thousand heads (animals) | -5.7% |
| 1989 | 21,680 Thousand heads (animals) | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 22,096 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.9% |
| 1991 | 21,937 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 21,597 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 21,190 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 21,242 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 21,241 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 21,626 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 20,887 Thousand heads (animals) | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 20,713 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 20,494 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 20,590 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 21,001 Thousand heads (animals) | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 20,531 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 20,041 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 19,558 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 19,358 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 19,261 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 19,358 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 20,299 Thousand heads (animals) | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 20,029 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 20,002 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 19,714 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 19,282 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 19,179 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 19,286 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 19,463 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 19,559 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 19,433 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 18,737 Thousand heads (animals) | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 18,470 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 18,200 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 17,863 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 17,416 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 17,039 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 16,794 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.4% |
| 2025 | 16,395 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.4% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 16,395 Thousand heads (animals) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,443 Thousand heads (animals), 11.4× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- France's 16,395 Thousand heads (animals) is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,443 Thousand heads (animals), 11.4× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24,530 Thousand heads (animals) | 24,429 Thousand heads (animals) | 24,631 Thousand heads (animals) | 2 |
| 1980s | 23,438 Thousand heads (animals) | 21,003 Thousand heads (animals) | 24,550 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 1990s | 21,302 Thousand heads (animals) | 20,494 Thousand heads (animals) | 22,096 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 2000s | 20,003 Thousand heads (animals) | 19,261 Thousand heads (animals) | 21,001 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,312 Thousand heads (animals) | 18,470 Thousand heads (animals) | 20,002 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 2020s | 17,284 Thousand heads (animals) | 16,395 Thousand heads (animals) | 18,200 Thousand heads (animals) | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 1 Türkiye 17,189 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 3 Germany 10,335 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 4 United Kingdom 9,615 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 4 United Kingdom 9,615 Thousand heads (animals) compare
More population data for France
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1885 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.58 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.028 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.16 million people (2100)
- Population density 125.07 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1075 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.1504 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is bovine population in France?
- Bovine population in France was 16,395 Thousand heads (animals) in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest bovine population recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 24,631 Thousand heads (animals) in 1979.
- What is the lowest bovine population recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,395 Thousand heads (animals) in 2025.
- How does France rank for bovine population?
- France ranks 2nd out of 36 countries with data for 2025.
- Is bovine population rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Bovine population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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