Bovine population in Ireland
Ireland: Bovine population was 6,905 Thousand heads (animals) in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
6,905 Thousand heads (animals)
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
6th
of 36 countries
All-time high
7,640 Thousand heads (animals)
in 1998
All-time low
6,464 Thousand heads (animals)
in 1988
Years of data
49
1977–2025
Bovine population in Ireland, 1977–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand heads (animals).
Analysis
In 2025, bovine population in Ireland stood at 6,905 Thousand heads (animals).
That represents a change of down 3.9% on the previous year and down 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, bovine population in Ireland peaked at 7,640 Thousand heads (animals) in 1998 and was at its lowest, 6,464 Thousand heads (animals), in 1988.
Ireland ranks 6th of 36 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Bovine population in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Thousand heads (animals) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 7,124 Thousand heads (animals) | — |
| 1978 | 7,125 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 7,178 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 6,935 Thousand heads (animals) | -3.4% |
| 1981 | 6,744 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.8% |
| 1982 | 6,728 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 6,810 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 6,806 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 6,819 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 6,616 Thousand heads (animals) | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 6,545 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.1% |
| 1988 | 6,464 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.2% |
| 1989 | 6,642 Thousand heads (animals) | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 6,816 Thousand heads (animals) | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 6,912 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 6,951 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 6,982 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 6,996 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 7,034 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 7,314 Thousand heads (animals) | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 7,533 Thousand heads (animals) | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 7,640 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 7,387 Thousand heads (animals) | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 7,037 Thousand heads (animals) | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 7,050 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 6,992 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 7,000 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 7,016 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 6,992 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 6,978 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 6,891 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 6,902 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 6,891 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 6,607 Thousand heads (animals) | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 6,493 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 6,754 Thousand heads (animals) | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 6,903 Thousand heads (animals) | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 6,926 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 6,964 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 7,221 Thousand heads (animals) | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 7,364 Thousand heads (animals) | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 7,348 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 7,209 Thousand heads (animals) | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 7,314 Thousand heads (animals) | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 7,359 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 7,396 Thousand heads (animals) | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 7,341 Thousand heads (animals) | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 7,183 Thousand heads (animals) | -2.2% |
| 2025 | 6,905 Thousand heads (animals) | -3.9% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 6,905 Thousand heads (animals) is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,443 Thousand heads (animals), 4.8× the median. (27 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 6,905 Thousand heads (animals) is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,443 Thousand heads (animals), 4.8× the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7,142 Thousand heads (animals) | 7,124 Thousand heads (animals) | 7,178 Thousand heads (animals) | 3 |
| 1980s | 6,711 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,464 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,935 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,156 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,816 Thousand heads (animals) | 7,640 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,975 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,891 Thousand heads (animals) | 7,050 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,979 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,493 Thousand heads (animals) | 7,364 Thousand heads (animals) | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,250 Thousand heads (animals) | 6,905 Thousand heads (animals) | 7,396 Thousand heads (animals) | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 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
- 7 Spain 6,443 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 8 Poland 6,147 Thousand heads (animals) compare
- 8 Poland 6,147 Thousand heads (animals) compare
More population data for Ireland
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.1157 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.68 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 217,052 people (2100)
- Population density 76.73 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1844 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5372 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is bovine population in Ireland?
- Bovine population in Ireland was 6,905 Thousand heads (animals) in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest bovine population recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 7,640 Thousand heads (animals) in 1998.
- What is the lowest bovine population recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,464 Thousand heads (animals) in 1988.
- How does Ireland rank for bovine population?
- Ireland ranks 6th out of 36 countries with data for 2025.
- Is bovine population rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Bovine population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).