Pakistan's livestock herd nearly doubles in 18 years

July 09, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan's livestock population has surged sharply over the past 18 years, with the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 showing the country's cattle herd more than doubling to 55.86 million head from 29.56 million recorded in the last Livestock Census of 2006, a jump of 89%.

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), in its national findings released as part of the Agricultural Census 2024, put the total buffalo population at 47.74 million, up 75% from 27.33 million in 2006.

Goats, the most numerous livestock species in the country, rose 78% to 95.83 million, while the sheep population climbed 68% to 44.58 million.

Within the cattle count, the sharpest growth came from productive categories rather than draught animals. In-milk cows rose 140% to 20.93 million, while cows aged three years and above increased 112% to 32.13 million.

This is a trend PBS data reflects, both a larger dairy base and improved reporting under the census's new integrated digital methodology. Bullocks aged three years and above, by contrast, grew a comparatively modest 77%, consistent with the declining use of draught cattle as farm mechanization has expanded.

Buffalo herd growth showed an even sharper skew: the male buffalo population aged three years and above jumped 412% nationally, while in-milk buffaloes rose 111%.

Provincial breakdowns show Punjab retains the largest share of the national herd across most categories, 48.28% of cattle, 61.92% of buffaloes, and 32.67% of goats, while Balochistan dominates sheep (42.20% of the national flock) and camels (51.06%).

Sindh's contribution is smaller in relative terms but notable in absolute numbers, accounting for roughly a fifth of the country's large-ruminant population, with 13.46 million buffaloes and 11.21 million cattle.

Dr. Naeem uz Zafar, Chief Statistician of Pakistan, said the 7th Agricultural Census, the first to be conducted through a fully integrated digital platform combining agriculture, livestock and machinery data, was completed in two phases between January and February 2025 after a 14-year gap since the last count, using GIS-based monitoring, geo-tagging and real-time data synchronisation.

The scale of the increase carries direct implications for Pakistan's dairy and meat value chains, both significant contributors to agricultural GDP, and for rural household income given livestock's role as a store of wealth in much of the country's farming population.

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