New Zealand’s sheep population shrinks further, narrowing gap with humans

KATHMANDU: For decades, New Zealand’s vast sheep population compared to its relatively small human population has been the subject of jokes and stereotypes, especially among expatriates.

But new statistics released on Tuesday suggest that the woolly icons may soon lose their numerical dominance.

According to the latest data from the national statistics agency Stats NZ, New Zealand now has approximately 23.6 million sheep compared to a human population of 5.3 million — translating to around 4.5 sheep per person.

That’s a dramatic drop from 1982, when the ratio peaked at 22 sheep per person. At the time, sheep farming was a cornerstone of the country’s economy, driven by high global demand for meat and wool.

However, decades of declining wool prices — largely due to the global shift toward synthetic fibers — have forced many farmers to rethink their land use strategies.

According to the country’s largest agricultural lobby group, this change is transforming the landscape of New Zealand’s rural economy.

A Declining Flock

Geographically, New Zealand is roughly the same size as the United Kingdom, but with only about 1/13th of the UK’s population, offering vast open spaces for livestock.

For nearly 150 years, sheep farming was the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, peaking in 1982 with over 70 million sheep and just 3.2 million people.

Before tourism boomed with the release of The Lord of the Rings films, New Zealand was often internationally represented by postcard-perfect images of peaceful sheep grazing on green fields backed by snow-covered mountains.

But despite occasional price surges, global wool markets have continued to decline. As a result, the national sheep flock has steadily decreased. Today, dairy farming dominates New Zealand’s agriculture and horticulture export markets.

Farmers Shifting Focus

In 2023, Stats NZ revealed that, for the first time in history, the number of sheep per person had fallen below five. The latest data — covering livestock figures up to June 2024 — shows a further decline of 1 million sheep over the past year.

Toby Williams, a spokesperson for Federated Farmers, noted that many sheep farmers are now converting their land into pine forests for carbon offset sales or shifting to more profitable sectors like dairy.

“To be honest,” Williams said, “the wool industry is on the brink — if not already past it — of no longer being viable.”

Government Response and New Strategies

In response, the government has introduced several initiatives to counteract the decline. These include a 2024 regulation that limits the conversion of productive farmland into carbon forests.

In April, a new government procurement guideline was introduced, encouraging the use of New Zealand wool products — such as carpets and insulation — in all new or refurbished public buildings.

However, officials admit these measures are unlikely to reverse the overall trend.

Similar declines are being observed in other sheep-farming nations. In neighboring Australia, another country famous for its sheep population, the national flock is also falling.

Australia still has more sheep than people — about three sheep per person — but the numbers are shrinking there too.