Number of milk cows worldwide 2024, by country

Published by
M. Shahbandeh,
Jan 20, 2025

How many cows are in the world?

India is home to the highest number of milk cows of any country, at over 61 million head as of 2024. That year, the European Union had the second most milk cows worldwide, at about 20 million head. 

Raising milk cows

In the United States, the cost of feeding, housing, and caring for a single cow is around 2,260 U.S. dollars per 24 months. Though this price might seem high, when one considers that the average milk cow in the United States produces around 24.3 thousand pounds of milk per year, the investment might be worth it.

Dairy production worldwide

Although India is by far the largest producer of milk cows, the 27 member states of the European Union collectively produce nearly twice the amount of cow milk of India. The United States came in second place with just under 104 million metric tons of milk, followed by India with about 100 million metric tons. The European Union is also the leading producer of cheese worldwide.

Number of milk cows worldwide in 2024, by country (in 1,000 heads)

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Release date

December 2024

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

2024

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