The number of horses in South Africa amounted to almost 328 thousand as of 2021, the highest since 2010. Compared to the previous year, the horse population increased from nearly 325 thousand. Overall, the number of horses in the country increased annually from 300 thousand in 2010. Moreover, the number of horses slaughtered in South Africa amounted to 7.06 thousand in 2021.
* FAO estimate
The rest of the data is"FAO data based on imputation methodology"
Figures were rounded.
According to the source: "this variable indicates the number of animals of the species present in the country at the time of enumeration. It includes animals raised either for draft purposes or for meat, eggs and dairy production or kept for breeding. Live animals in captivity for fur or skin such as foxes, minks etc. are not included in the system although furskin trade is reported. The enumeration to be chosen, when more than one survey is taken, is the closest to the beginning of the calendar year. Livestock data are reported in number of heads (units) except for poultry, rabbits and other rodents which are reported in thousand units."
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FAO. (March 24, 2023). Stock of horses in South Africa from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000 heads) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1306731/stock-of-horses-in-south-africa/
FAO. "Stock of horses in South Africa from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000 heads)." Chart. March 24, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1306731/stock-of-horses-in-south-africa/
FAO. (2023). Stock of horses in South Africa from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000 heads). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1306731/stock-of-horses-in-south-africa/
FAO. "Stock of Horses in South Africa from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000 Heads)." Statista, Statista Inc., 24 Mar 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1306731/stock-of-horses-in-south-africa/
FAO, Stock of horses in South Africa from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000 heads) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1306731/stock-of-horses-in-south-africa/ (last visited July 12, 2025)
Stock of horses in South Africa from 2010 to 2021 (in 1,000 heads) [Graph], FAO, March 24, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1306731/stock-of-horses-in-south-africa/
