đ This fact may be outdated
The core premise is still true (Australia has more sheep than people), but the specific numbers are outdated. Current 2025 data shows approximately 70-73 million sheep and 27.6 million people, not 150 million sheep and 20 million people. Australia's sheep population peaked in the 1990s at over 180 million but has declined significantly due to drought, economic factors, and land-use changes.
There are more than 150 million sheep in Australia, and only some 20 million people.
Australia's Shrinking Sheep Empire: From 150M to 70M
Australia's reputation as a sheep-grazing powerhouse is well-deserved, but the numbers have changed dramatically. While it's still true that sheep outnumber people down under, the gap has narrowed considerably from the glory days of the 1990s.
The Peak Years
In the early 1990s, Australia was home to over 180 million sheep - more than nine sheep for every person. At that time, with a human population hovering around 17-18 million, the country was essentially a vast wool and lamb factory. The number cited in the classic fact - 150 million sheep to 20 million people - reflects the situation from the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2000s.
Wool was king. Australia dominated global wool markets, and sheep farming was deeply ingrained in the national economy and identity. Massive stations in the Outback ran tens of thousands of sheep across landscapes larger than some countries.
The Great Decline
Today's reality is strikingly different. Australia's sheep population has plummeted to approximately 70-73 million as of 2025 - less than half the peak numbers. Meanwhile, the human population has grown to 27.6 million. The ratio has shifted from roughly 9:1 to just 2.5:1.
What happened? A perfect storm of factors:
- Devastating droughts: The Millennium Drought (1997-2009) and subsequent dry spells forced farmers to destock
- Wool price collapse: Synthetic fibers and changing fashion reduced demand for Australian wool
- Economic shifts: Many farmers switched to more profitable cattle or crops
- Climate pressures: Ongoing water scarcity made sheep farming less viable in traditional areas
- Land-use changes: Urban expansion and mining ate into pastoral land
Still a Sheep Nation
Despite the dramatic drop, Australia remains one of the world's largest sheep populations. Those 70+ million sheep still place Australia in the global top tier, behind only China and potentially Iran. The country is still the world's leading exporter of sheep meat and a major wool producer.
The industry has simply transformed. Modern Australian sheep farming is leaner, more efficient, and increasingly focused on premium lamb exports rather than mass wool production. The 2025 projections show the flock stabilizing after years of decline, suggesting the industry has found its new equilibrium.
So yes, sheep still outnumber Australians - just not by the overwhelming margin they once did. The Land Down Under has gone from a sheep empire to a sheep nation, and the flocks that remain are more valuable than ever.