Shear numbers: human population set to surpass sheep in New Zealand

New Zealand, long the butt of jokes for its disproportionately large sheep population, is seeing its human numbers creep closer to those of its ovine counterparts. While sheep still outnumber people, the gap is narrowing, according to new government data.

- CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-MCLAY

The latest figures reveal a ratio of 4.5 sheep per person, a significant drop from the 22 sheep per person recorded in 1982. This shift reflects a changing agricultural landscape in New Zealand, where sheep farming once reigned supreme.

Back in 1982, sheep farming for wool and meat was the nation’s primary economic driver. However, the global rise of synthetic fibres has led to a sustained decline in wool prices, forcing farmers to diversify their land use, according to industry representatives. This adaptation has contributed to the shrinking sheep population, now standing at 23.6 million compared to a human population of 5.3 million.

By land area, New Zealand is about the size of the United Kingdom, but it has a human population 13 times smaller than the UK. That means there’s plenty of room for sheep.