EU livestock numbers fall for tenth straight year
Goat and sheep herds down sharply since 2015, Eurostat says
7 July 2026
1 minute read
By: The European Union had 131.5 million pigs, 71.6 million bovine animals, 55.3 million sheep and 10.2 million goats in 2025, with all four livestock populations declining from the previous year, according to Eurostat.
The pig population fell 0.5%, bovines 0.4%, sheep 2.2% and goats 2.5%.
The declines are part of a longer-term trend. Compared with 2015, pig numbers were 8.9% lower in 2025, bovine animals 9.7% lower, sheep 12.2% lower and goats 17.5% lower.
