New Zealand still has more sheep than people: Statistics
Statistics by the New Zealand Government Agency has revealed that there were still more sheep than humans in the country.
With a population of 23.6 million sheep and 5.3 million people, there are about 4.5 sheep for each New Zealander, the statistics showed.
According to the statistics, that is down from 22 sheep per person in 1982, when farming sheep for meat and wool was New Zealand’s biggest earner.
Now, years of falling wool prices prompted by a global shift to synthetic fibres have led farmers to change what they do with their land, the sector’s biggest lobby group said.
The lobby group added that humans were gradually trying to catch up with the sheep.
The vast number of sheep in New Zealand relative to the country’s scant human population has long been the subject of jokes aimed at New Zealanders abroad.
The country is one of a handful in the world that’s still home to more sheep than people, but humans are catching up, according to new figures released Tuesday.
(AP/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
![U.S. Mission[Credit: X.com]](https://gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/images-78-3.jpeg)
World
U.S. issues security alert to Americans worldwide as Iran kills two soldiers
The U.S. government issued a warning to all Americans worldwide amid the escalating war against Iran.
Heading 3
Tinubu’s scorecard is 139 million Nigerians in poverty; he should resign, not seek re-election: ADC
“The evidence of 139 million people living in poverty and 17 million at risk of starvation is President Tinubu’s scorecard,” the party said.
Lagos
Lagos govt working to tackle flooding, says SSG
She said the government was assessing critical drainage channels and other vulnerable locations to strengthen ongoing flood control measures.
States
Three killed, four injured in Anambra road crash: FRSC
The FRSC said the accident occurred on Friday along the Nnobi–Agulu–Awka road.
Politics
2027: Group asks ADC, Atiku to drop Amaechi as vice-presidential candidate
The group accused Mr Amaechi of desperation, saying that he lacked the grassroots strength required to win the election.
![Jens Spahn. [PHOTO CREDIT: ZDF]](https://gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/Jens-Spahn.jpg)
Heading 4
German lawmaker resigns after backlash for welcoming child through surrogacy
The 46-year-old politician and his party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), had backed a ban on surrogacy.
