South Sudan has more cows than humans (57 million cattle, goats, sheep & 11 million people)
According to a Food and Agriculture Administration (FAO) report, “South Sudan’s livestock population is estimated at 12 million cattle, 20 million sheep and 25 million goats according to the National Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Industry, making it a world leader in terms of animal wealth per capita”.
In 2018, South Sudan had an estimated population of 10.98 million people.
The statistics revealed that there are more livestocks than humans living in South Sudan.
Despite its enormous livestock wealth, South Sudan continues to import most of its meat from neighbouring countries.
South Sudan cattle keepers traditionally consider livestock basically for marriage and prestige.
Most South Sudanese live mainly on traditional agriculture and pastoralism, depending on cattle husbandry as a cultural pride, not for financial purposes or meat, but for cultural demonstrations, customs, marriage dowries and milk feedings for all ages. They produce food crops and cash crops.
Cattle are restricted during the dry season to wetland rivers, sudd and pasture, but are brought high grounds to avoid water and flooding during rainy season.
