Wellington: Government statistics from a New Zealand Government Agency reveal that the country continues to have more sheep than humans. With a population of 23.6 million sheep compared to 5.3 million people, there are approximately 4.5 sheep for every New Zealander.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, this ratio is a significant decrease from 1982, when there were 22 sheep per person, as sheep farming was the nation’s top economic activity. The decline is attributed to years of falling wool prices driven by a global shift towards synthetic fibers, prompting farmers to diversify the use of their land.

The sector’s largest lobby group has noted that while the human population is slowly increasing, the number of sheep remains a popular topic of humor internationally. New Zealand is one of the few countries where sheep still outnumber people, though the gap is closing, as highlighted by recent figures released on Tuesday.