Pakistan’s livestock sector has recorded strong and broad-based growth over the past year, with official data showing significant increases across all major animal categories — from cattle and buffaloes to goats, sheep and donkeys.
Donkeys: The donkey population rose by 113,000, reaching a total of 6.16 million across the country.
Buffaloes: Buffalo numbers saw one of the largest jumps, increasing by 1.467 million to reach 49.155 million — a significant addition to one of Pakistan’s most important livestock categories.
Cattle: Cattle numbers also posted impressive growth, rising by 2.249 million to reach a total of 61.96 million — reflecting strong demand in the dairy and beef sectors.
Goats: The goat population, one of the largest livestock segments in the country, increased by 2.422 million — continuing its trend as one of Pakistan’s most widely kept animals.
Sheep: Sheep numbers climbed to 33.511 million after recording an increase of 392,000 during the year.
Other Animals: Marginal but steady growth was also recorded across camels, horses and mules. Camels reached 1.193 million, horses 386,000 and mules 221,000.
The across-the-board growth in Pakistan’s livestock population reflects the sector’s continued resilience and importance to the national economy, particularly for rural communities that depend on these animals for livelihood, transportation and food production.
