| 1 | China | 4,650,000 | 28 | 175-180M head; largest producer AND consumer; minimal exports; pastoral north + growing feedlot |
| 2 | Australia | 680,000 | 4.1 | 70-75M head; export-oriented (40%); drought cycles drive flock fluctuations |
| 3 | Turkey | 525,000 | 3.2 | 35-37M head; mixed farming; mostly domestic consumption |
| 4 | New Zealand | 465,000 | 2.8 | 25-26M head; 95%+ exported; world's largest sheep meat exporter |
| 5 | Iran | 375,000 | 2.3 | 42-45M head; nomadic + sedentary; domestic |
| 6 | India | 325,000 | 2 | 65-70M head; mostly domestic mutton consumption |
| 7 | Algeria | 325,000 | 2 | 30-32M head; transhumance pastoral |
| 8 | UK | 310,000 | 1.9 | 33-35M head; pastoral; counter-seasonal trade with NZ; Welsh + English lowland systems |
| 9 | Sudan | 275,000 | 1.7 | 40-42M head; nomadic; live exports to Saudi Arabia |
| 10 | Pakistan | 275,000 | 1.7 | 28-30M head; nomadic + sedentary; domestic |
| 11 | Ethiopia | 225,000 | 1.4 | 37-40M head; smallholder pastoral |
| 12 | Morocco | 165,000 | 1 | 20-22M head; transhumance + sedentary |
| 13 | South Africa | 140,000 | 0.9 | 24-26M head; Karoo extensive; Dorper origin |
| 14 | Spain | 130,000 | 0.8 | 15-16M head; lechazo specialty + standard lamb; 20-25k MT exported |
| 15 | USA | 75,000 | 0.5 | 5-5.5M head; small industry; 50%+ of US consumption imported |
| — | Ireland | 0 | — | Major exporter (15-20k MT); pastoral lowland system |
| — | Uruguay | 0 | — | Exporter (10-15k MT); Merino dual-purpose pastoral |