Data on working animals

We need reliable data on donkey, horse and mule populations to make impactful policy decisions. Our research highlights data challenges and recommendations for governments

There are an estimated 116 million equines (donkeys, horses and mules) globally, with 36 million in the 38 lowest-income countries, but accurate population data for working animals is lacking for many countries.

This gap means that governments and organisations can’t spot worrying trends and threats to animal populations, such as illegal trades and diseases.

Brooke Working animal research and policy

99% of the global donkey population is found in low-to-middle income countries

Working animals are not prioritised in programming and policy making. There is minimal funding for much-needed research to inform evidence-based policy and promote sustainable development.

Brooke research and policy on working animals

Our research on animal census reporting

Our research report explores 36 countries’ most recent censuses to highlight challenges for governments and provide recommendations. It includes case studies on China, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Mexico, Senegal and the UK.

36 countries’ last censuses

22 out of 36 countries haven’t counted their equid populations in the last 10 years.

Livestock data challenges

Countries are supposed to report livestock data to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation every 10 years. Our research examined 36 countries to determine how recently governments carried out a census. We found that:

Only 14 countries have conducted a census since 2011
Eleven countries in the past 11 to 15 years
Four countries in the past 16 to 20 years
Four countries over 20 years ago
Two countries have no census history.

Governments in lower-income countries often lack the capacity to regularly gather quality data. The data collected varies in quality, consistency and accuracy. This means data on working animals can’t be compared to other data sets and is rarely included in national farming statistics.

Current data on working animals can provide overall trends but offers little insight into the socio-economic contributions that donkeys, horses and mules make to development, or into emerging threats and cross-border movements.

Classify working donkeys, horses and mules as ‘livestock’ , so that they are counted as part of livestock censuses
Link donkeys, horses and mules with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so equids are included in countries’ reports on progress towards the goals in UN processes
Report regularly to the FAO
Improve censuses, by embracing regulatory frameworks, checking data quality and building staff’s capacity for data gathering. More frequent mini-censuses and other data gathering activities should be undertaken
Use technological systems that identify and trace livestock for more transparent information on trade, food security and illegal cross border movement
Collaborate and share data with other actors, including public institutions, private sector and civil society organisations

Download our report on working animal data

landscaping-analysis-working-equid-population-numbers-lmics.pdf (1.74 MB)

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What we do

Brooke works with communities across the world to transform the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules. We drive lasting improvements in animal health and welfare through action, advocacy and education.

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Our research

Research is vital to everything Brooke does. It helps us understand the real challenges faced by working horses, donkeys and mules, as well as the communities who depend on them for their livelihoods.

A group of four donkeys eat green vegetation together

Policy and advocacy

Our team campaigns to change the lives of working animals and the communities that rely on them. See how our work is making an impact across the world.

Every day, working horses, donkeys and mules face exhaustion, injury and hardship.

Our causes

Explore some of the biggest challenges facing working donkeys, horses and mules and the communities that rely on them.

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Our strategy

Creating a world where working animals have a life worth living.

Data on working animals

Why we need accurate animal data