Donegal listed as Ireland’s most populous sheep county in 2025

The Government has published the 2025 National Sheep and Goat Census, which details how Donegal has the highest population of sheep in the country.

In total, there were 6,142 flocks of sheep in Donegal with a total population of 538,511 sheep. The next highest county was Mayo with 448,226 sheep, followed by Galway with 400,222 sheep.

Nationally, the population of sheep was recorded at slightly under 3.7 million, meaning that Donegal accounted for over 14% of all sheep in the country in 2025.

The number of sheep in Donegal equates to more than three sheep per person living within the county.

Limerick was the county that recorded the lowest population of sheep, at 18,299, followed by Dublin at 23,094.

The 2025 National Sheep and Goat Census is required by the EU Animal Health Law (Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/429). The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) carry out a census of sheep and goats annually.

This census report records the number of sheep and goats kept in Ireland on December 31, 2025, and is based on data submitted to the Department by March 30, 2026.

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Donegal listed as Ireland’s most populous sheep county in 2025

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