Pigs are one of the most commonly raised animals in the world. They are the primary protein source for millions of people across numerous different cultures and geographical regions. In 2023, there were over 778 million pigs worldwide, decreasing from around 784 million heads in the previous year.
International trade
Although China produces the highest number of pigs of any country, the European Union leads the world in terms of pork exports, exporting over 3.7 million metric tons of pork in 2023. The United States is the second largest exporter of pork, at about three million metric tons.
Consumption in China
Pork features heavily in a large number of traditional Chinese dishes, and thus is widely consumed and sought after in China. As China continues to prosper and expand economically, the amount of meat in the daily meals of consumers in China is expected to increase. There is a high level of demand for pork in China, which cannot be satisfied by domestic production. In 2023, China is forecast to import 2.2 million metric tons of pork, making it the top importer of pork as well as the top producer.
Number of pigs worldwide from 2012 to 2024 (in million head)*
Characteristic
Number of pigs in million head
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*Total beginning stocks.
**Estimate as of April 2024.
Figures have been rounded to provide a better understanding of the statistic.
Figures prior to 2019 have been taken from previous versions of the report.
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USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, & US Department of Agriculture. (April 23, 2024). Number of pigs worldwide from 2012 to 2024 (in million head)* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/263963/number-of-pigs-worldwide-since-1990/
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, und US Department of Agriculture. "Number of pigs worldwide from 2012 to 2024 (in million head)*." Chart. April 23, 2024. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/263963/number-of-pigs-worldwide-since-1990/
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, US Department of Agriculture. (2024). Number of pigs worldwide from 2012 to 2024 (in million head)*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/263963/number-of-pigs-worldwide-since-1990/
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, and US Department of Agriculture. "Number of Pigs Worldwide from 2012 to 2024 (in Million Head)*." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Apr 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/263963/number-of-pigs-worldwide-since-1990/
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service & US Department of Agriculture, Number of pigs worldwide from 2012 to 2024 (in million head)* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/263963/number-of-pigs-worldwide-since-1990/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Number of pigs worldwide from 2012 to 2024 (in million head)* [Graph], USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, & US Department of Agriculture, April 23, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/263963/number-of-pigs-worldwide-since-1990/