Trends and Changes in Sheep Population Across India

India is home to one of the largest sheep populations in the world, and the numbers tell a compelling story of steady growth driven by both economic need and market demand. From around 57 million in 1997 to 74.26 million recorded in the 20th Livestock Census of 2019, the trajectory of India’s sheep population reflects the growing importance of this species in the country’s agricultural and rural economy. Understanding how and where these numbers have changed – and why – gives us a clearer picture of India’s livestock landscape.

Sheep’s share in India’s total livestock 🔗

India’s total livestock population stood at 536.76 million as per the 2019 census. Within this, sheep occupy a notable position. According to species-wise data from the 20th Livestock Census, sheep account for approximately 13.83% of the total livestock population in India, placing them third after cattle (36.04%) and goat (27.74%). In earlier assessments, this figure was cited closer to 12.7%, but successive censuses have shown a consistent upward revision in sheep numbers, reflecting real growth on the ground.

India ranks second globally in sheep and goat numbers after China, which underscores the country’s importance as a major sheep-rearing nation. The diversity of India’s agro-climatic zones – from high-altitude Himalayan pastures to the arid plains of Rajasthan and the semi-arid Deccan Plateau – has allowed a wide range of indigenous sheep breeds to thrive across different regions.

Population growth across census years 🔗

The steady increase in sheep numbers across decades is well-documented in India’s quinquennial livestock censuses. From approximately 57 million in 1997, the population rose to around 61.47 million by 2003 – a growth of roughly 6.91%. This gradual upward trend continued through the 2007 and 2012 censuses, though not without some regional fluctuations. The most recent figure from the 2019 census records 74.26 million sheep in the country, marking a significant 14.1% increase over the 2012 census – the highest rate of growth seen in several census cycles.

This acceleration in growth between 2012 and 2019 is particularly notable. It points to a combination of factors: expanding demand for mutton, government support for small ruminant farming, and the resilience of sheep as a livestock option in drought-prone and economically marginal areas. Projections from ICAR research estimate that the indigenous sheep population could reach 79.65 million by 2031, indicating that this upward trend is expected to continue.

State-wise distribution: where are India’s sheep? 🔗

Sheep in India are not evenly distributed. Their population is heavily concentrated in a handful of states, largely determined by ecological suitability and cultural practices of sheep rearing.

Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka – the southern belt 🔗

The southern states dominate India’s sheep map by a wide margin. As per the 20th Livestock Census, Telangana leads with 25.7% of the national sheep population, followed by Andhra Pradesh at 23.7% and Karnataka at 14.9%. Together, these three states along with Rajasthan account for nearly three-quarters of India’s total sheep population.

The prominence of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is closely tied to agricultural vulnerability in these regions. Research published in the Journal of Livestock Science notes that sheep populations have grown considerably in areas where farmer suicides due to crop failure were more prevalent – highlighting how sheep farming functions as a critical financial safety net in rain-dependent farming communities. In Andhra Pradesh, the six southern districts of Anantapur, Prakasam, Kurnool, YSR, Chittoor, and SPSR alone hold nearly one-fifth of the country’s entire indigenous sheep population. Anantapur district, in fact, has the largest sheep population of any single district in India.

In Karnataka, the 20th Livestock Census records a sheep population of 9.60 million – about 32% of the state’s total livestock. These animals are concentrated mainly in the southern and northeastern dry zones, in districts like Mysuru, Kolar, Vijayapura, and Chitradurga, where sheep farming serves as a key income source for marginal farmers.

Rajasthan – the wool heartland 🔗

Rajasthan contributes around 10.6% of India’s sheep population and is particularly significant for wool production. The state produces the largest share of India’s total wool – approximately 45.94% of national wool output – making it indispensable to the domestic textile industry. Sheep breeds like the Marwari and Chokla, native to the Thar Desert’s districts, are well-adapted to arid conditions and long-distance migration in search of grazing. The Chokla breed, found in Churu and Sikar districts, produces the finest carpet wool of all Indian breeds.

In terms of absolute numbers in the 1997 census, Rajasthan held the top position nationally with around 14.6 million sheep, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The subsequent bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into two states – Andhra Pradesh and Telangana – changed the rankings structurally, with Telangana now holding the largest share when counted separately.

Other states with significant sheep populations 🔗

Beyond the four leading states, Tamil Nadu accounts for about 6.1% of national sheep numbers. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand collectively support sheep farming at higher altitudes, producing better-quality wool suited for apparel and fine carpets. Maharashtra also maintains a sizeable sheep population, largely reared for mutton in the Deccan Plateau belt.

Drivers of population growth 🔗

Rising domestic demand for mutton 🔗

Mutton is one of the primary reasons for the steady rise in India’s sheep population. Sheep farming acts as a major tool of poverty alleviation in rural areas through the production of mutton, wool, manure, skin, and milk – and it is largely practiced by marginal farmers and landless labourers, particularly in dryland areas. As incomes have grown in rural and semi-urban India, the demand for mutton has risen correspondingly, encouraging more households to invest in sheep rearing.

India is currently the largest exporter of sheep and goat meat in the world, with major destinations including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, and Bahrain. This export demand has further stimulated domestic sheep farming, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where mutton-focused breeds like the Nellore and Deccani are widely reared.

Wool production as a secondary driver 🔗

While mutton has increasingly taken precedence as the primary income source for sheep farmers, wool remains commercially significant in northern and northwestern India. In 2018-19, Rajasthan led national wool production with a 35.9% share, followed by Jammu & Kashmir at 18.9% and Telangana at 10.5%. However, overall wool production in India has shown a declining trend – falling from 48.1 million kg in 2014-15 to 40.4 million kg in 2018-19 – partly due to a shift in breeding priorities toward mutton production and the reduced profitability of coarse wool in competitive markets.

Low-cost rearing and rural resilience 🔗

Sheep rearing contributes around 8.5% of the total value of output from the livestock sector, especially in arid, semi-arid, and mountainous areas where crops and dairy farming are not economically viable. Unlike cattle or buffaloes, sheep do not require expensive housing, can thrive on common grazing lands and crop residues, and reproduce rapidly – making them accessible to the poorest farming households. These practical advantages have helped sustain and grow sheep populations even in economically stressed regions.

Sheep population and breed diversity 🔗

India has 44 registered and documented sheep breeds, spread across vastly different ecological conditions – which explains the country’s wide variety of sheep phenotypes and production types. Breeds range from the coarse-woolled Marwari of Rajasthan to the mutton-focused Nellore of Andhra Pradesh and the fine-woolled Gaddi of Himachal Pradesh. This genetic diversity is a significant national resource, and institutions like ICAR actively document and manage breed improvement programs to enhance economically important traits like meat yield and wool quality without compromising the natural adaptability of indigenous breeds.

The distribution of descript (recognized) breeds is also concentrated in key states. Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Rajasthan together account for 76.7% of India’s indigenous sheep population – confirming that breed diversity and sheep density go hand in hand in these core sheep-rearing zones.

Challenges to continued growth 🔗

Despite the positive population trend, several challenges could affect future growth. Climate change is expected to bring dramatic shifts to sheep husbandry, including feed and fodder scarcity, shrinkage of grazing land, spread of diseases, and market disruptions for wool and meat. In states like Rajasthan, the decline in grazing commons due to land encroachment has already constrained the traditional migratory patterns of sheep herders. Additionally, the average yield of wool per sheep in India – at 1.44 kg per season – remains well below the world average of 2.4 kg per sheep, highlighting the scope and need for breed improvement.

Policy interventions under the National Livestock Mission by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying are aimed at supporting sheep and goat farmers through breed improvement, veterinary services, and market access. These programs are particularly targeted at small ruminant farmers in the arid and semi-arid zones who depend most heavily on sheep for their livelihoods.

What do you think? Given that Telangana and Andhra Pradesh now lead the country in sheep numbers largely because of crop failure risks, does this suggest that India’s sheep population distribution is being shaped more by economic vulnerability than by ecological suitability? And as mutton demand continues to rise while wool production declines, how should breeding priorities in India’s sheep sector be recalibrated to serve the farmers who depend on it most?

References

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