Falling to a series low
Global Wool Production per Capita moved from 265.2 Gram in 2015 to 207.8 Gram in 2024 (−21.7%), an average of −2.7% a year. The series high was 265.2 Gram in 2015 and the low 207.8 Gram in 2024.
What Global Wool Production per Capita shows
Global Wool Production per Capita was 207.8 Gram in 2024, down 4% on 2023. Global wool production per capita measures worldwide wool production relative to the global population, providing a population-adjusted view of agricultural output. Between 2015 and 2024, global wool production per capita recorded an overall declining trend, although the indicator experienced a temporary recovery after reaching lower levels during the middle of the period.
A 21.7% peak-to-trough swing
The gap between the series high (2015) and low (2024) is 57.46 Gram. The sharpest single-year move was −8.6% in 2018.
New Zealand leads among 19 countries covered
Of the 19 countries in this dataset, New Zealand, Uruguay and UK have the highest values in 2024 (25,011, 6,794, 991.1 Gram respectively).
Country ranking
Wool Production per Capita by country, 2024
Gram. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
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| Rank↕ | Country↕ | Share of top | Gram↕ | vs 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 25,011 | −1.4% | |
| 2 | Uruguay | 6,794 | −6.8% | |
| 3 | UK | 991.1 | −0.6% | |
| 4 | Turkey | 963.4 | +4.8% | |
| 5 | Argentina | 701.2 | −6.2% | |
| 6 | South Africa | 677.3 | −1.5% | |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 423 | −0.9% | |
| 8 | Chile | 303 | −5.3% | |
| 9 | China | 256.8 | −0.6% | |
| 10 | Israel | 129.9 | −0.3% | |
| 11 | Egypt | 103.5 | −1.1% | |
| 12 | Colombia | 86.34 | +0.1% | |
| 13 | Brazil | 35.25 | −12.9% | |
| 14 | U.S. | 32.54 | −1.7% | |
| 15 | Canada | 29.62 | −1.9% | |
| 16 | Mexico | 29.28 | 0% | |
| 17 | India | 23.22 | −0.7% | |
| 18 | Australia | 10.52 | −12.5% | |
| 19 | Malaysia | 4.74 | −2.3% |
By region
Wool Production per Capita by region
Gram, 2024. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Global Wool Production per Capita by year
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Gram.
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| Year | Gram | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Trough | 207.8 | −4% |
| 2023 | 216.5 | −2% |
| 2022 | 220.8 | −2.7% |
| 2021 | 226.8 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 218.9 | −2.9% |
| 2019 | 225.3 | −5.3% |
| 2018 | 237.9 | −8.6% |
| 2017 | 260.2 | −0.1% |
| 2016 | 260.6 | −1.7% |
| 2015Peak | 265.2 | — |
Data definition
Inclusions and exclusions
Wool Production per Capita — Wool production per capita refers to the annual quantity of wool produced within a country divided by its population, providing a population-adjusted measure of wool production. The indicator is presented in Our World in Data as a country-level time series, allowing comparisons of wool production per person across countries and years. The selected dataset covers the period from 2015 to 2024.
The data includes wool production and population figures used to calculate wool production per capita for individual countries. The indicator covers wool classified as an agricultural product and reflects domestic production relative to the population of each country. The dataset includes annual observations for the selected countries and period and can be used to compare population-adjusted wool output across different geographic regions.
The data excludes wool imports, exports, trade values, prices, revenues, and domestic consumption. It does not measure the value of wool production or distinguish between wool produced for different end uses. The indicator also does not directly measure sheep populations, wool yields per animal, processing activity, or downstream textile production. Differences in production per capita may reflect changes in wool output, population, or both.
About this indicator
Wool Production per Capita — Wool production per capita refers to the annual quantity of wool produced within a country divided by its population, providing a population-adjusted measure of wool production. The indicator is presented in Our World in Data as a country-level time series, allowing comparisons of wool production per person across countries and years. The selected dataset covers the period from 2015 to 2024.
Global wool production per capita stood at 265.25 grams per person in 2015 and declined slightly to 260.61 grams in 2016 and 260.25 grams in 2017. A more noticeable reduction followed in 2018, when the indicator fell to 237.88 grams per person. The downward movement continued to 225.32 grams in 2019 and 218.88 grams in 2020, representing the lowest level recorded during the first six years of the period.
A temporary recovery occurred in 2021, when global wool production per capita increased to 226.80 grams per person. However, the improvement was not sustained. The indicator declined again to 220.79 grams in 2022 and 216.46 grams in 2023. By 2024, global wool production per capita had fallen further to 207.79 grams per person, the lowest reported level in the supplied series.
From 265.25 grams per person in 2015 to 207.79 grams in 2024, global wool production per capita declined by approximately 21.7%. This indicates a substantial reduction in population-adjusted wool production over the ten-year period. The overall trend was predominantly downward, with the increase recorded in 2021 representing only a temporary improvement.
The global indicator provides a standardized measure for assessing changes in wool production while accounting for population growth and differences in population size across countries. It supports comparisons of worldwide agricultural production and provides context for evaluating regional and country-level wool production trends. Overall, the data indicate that global wool production per capita was considerably lower in 2024 than in 2015, reflecting a sustained long-term decline in population-adjusted wool output.
- Indicator
- Wool Production per Capita
- Region
- Global
- Unit
- Gram
- Coverage
- 2015–2024, annual
- Category
- Agriculture
- Last updated
- August 2026
- Source
- Our World in Data
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Frequently asked questions
What is Global Wool Production per Capita?
Wool production per capita refers to the annual quantity of wool produced within a country divided by its population, providing a population-adjusted measure of wool production. The indicator is presented in Our World in Data as a country-level time series, allowing comparisons of wool production per person across countries and years. The selected dataset covers the period from 2015 to 2024.
What was Global Wool Production per Capita in 2024?
Global Wool Production per Capita was 207.8 Gram in 2024, down 4% on 2023.
How has Global Wool Production per Capita changed between 2015 and 2024?
Global Wool Production per Capita moved from 265.2 Gram in 2015 to 207.8 Gram in 2024 (−21.7%), an average of −2.7% a year. The series high was 265.2 Gram in 2015 and the low 207.8 Gram in 2024.
Which year had the highest and lowest Global Wool Production per Capita?
The highest value was 265.2 Gram in 2015 and the lowest was 207.8 Gram in 2024.
What does the Global Wool Production per Capita data include and exclude?
Included: The data includes wool production and population figures used to calculate wool production per capita for individual countries. The indicator covers wool classified as an agricultural product and reflects domestic production relative to the population of each country. The dataset includes annual observations for the selected countries and period and can be used to compare population-adjusted wool output across different geographic regions. Excluded: The data excludes wool imports, exports, trade values, prices, revenues, and domestic consumption. It does not measure the value of wool production or distinguish between wool produced for different end uses. The indicator also does not directly measure sheep populations, wool yields per animal, processing activity, or downstream textile production. Differences in production per capita may reflect changes in wool output, population, or both.
Where does the Global Wool Production per Capita data come from?
The series is sourced from Our World in Data (https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/global-food?tab=table&time=2015..2024&Food=Wool&Metric=Production&Per+capita=true&country=USA~DEU~FRA~GBR~BRA~ZAF%3BhideControls). It covers 2015–2024 and is reported in Gram.
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