The livestock sector in India has been a key driver of agricultural growth, with a consistent compound annual growth rate of 12.77% since 2014-15. Contributing significantly to the Gross Value Added (GVA) of the agriculture and allied sectors, its share has risen from 24.38% in 2014-15 to 30.87% in 2023-24 at current prices.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the livestock sector accounted for 5.49% of the total GVA at current prices, as highlighted by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. India stands as the top global milk producer, accounting for a quarter of the world’s milk output. The country’s milk production has grown at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.41% over the past 11 years, reaching 247.87 million tonnes in 2024-25 from 146.31 million tonnes in 2014-15.
According to official data, global milk production saw a modest increase of 1.12% in 2024 compared to the previous year. India’s per capita milk availability in 2024-25 stands at 485 grams per day, surpassing the world average of 328 grams per day in the same period. Notably, based on the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) production data for 2023, India ranks second in egg production and fourth in meat production worldwide.
Egg production in India has surged from 78.48 billion in 2014-15 to 149.11 billion in 2024-25, growing at a CAGR of 6.63% over the past 11 years. The per capita availability of eggs has also risen to 106 eggs per annum in 2024-25 from 62 eggs in 2014-15. Furthermore, meat production in the country has increased from 6.69 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 10.50 million tonnes in 2024-25, registering a CAGR of 4.61% over the same period.
