99,500
alpacas were reported on U.S. farms in 2022.
That count comes from the latest Census of Agriculture.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture ↗About our wool / U.S. Alpaca & Wool Statistics
Reference page
U.S. Alpaca
& Wool Statistics
A current, source-led collection of U.S. alpaca, sheep, and wool figures for writers, gear researchers, and anyone curious about the fibers behind a hard-working pair of socks.
Last reviewed: August 25, 2026. Figures remain tied to the date of their original source.
Natural-fiber socks start with a real agricultural supply chain. The numbers below are selected from the latest relevant U.S. government releases, with the source next to every figure so the details are easy to check and cite.
Nearly 50%
is how much the combined U.S. alpaca and llama herd declined from 2007 to 2022.
The Census of Agriculture charts the long-term change in both animals together.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture ↗3.00 million
sheep were shorn in the United States during 2025.
This is the national annual count of sheep shorn for wool production.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sheep and Goats 2026 ↗20.5 million lb
of shorn wool was produced in the United States during 2025.
The figure is reported in greasy, or unscoured, wool weight.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sheep and Goats 2026 ↗6.8 lb
was the average U.S. wool cut per sheep shorn in 2025.
The national report calculates this from total wool production and sheep shorn.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sheep and Goats 2026 ↗4.99 million
sheep and lambs were in the U.S. inventory on January 1, 2026.
This is the national inventory count at the start of the year.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sheep and Goats 2026 ↗$1.40/lb
was the average price paid for U.S. wool sold in 2025.
This is the national marketing-year average reported for wool sold.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sheep and Goats 2026 ↗$28.7 million
was the reported value of U.S. shorn wool production in 2025.
The national report calculates value using the marketing-year average wool price.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sheep and Goats 2026 ↗Sources and method
Clear numbers,
clear trail.
Woollow selected these figures from primary U.S. government reporting. This page does not estimate production, combine incompatible reporting years, or substitute a marketing claim for a measured result.
- USDA Economic Research Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture ↗, published October 2025. Used for the 2022 alpaca count and the 2007 to 2022 combined alpaca and llama herd change.
- USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Sheep and Goats 2026 ↗, published January 2026. Used for 2025 wool production, sheep shorn, average fleece weight, value, and the January 1, 2026 sheep inventory.
Cite this page: Woollow. “U.S. Alpaca & Wool Statistics.” Updated August 25, 2026. View the current reference page.
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