Goat Facts

About the goat

People domesticated goats from the wild goat of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe, starting in Iran around 10,000 years ago. Goats sit in the family Bovidae and are close relatives of sheep. Over the centuries, farmers have raised them across much of the world for milk, meat, wool and skins, and goat milk often ends up as cheese. In 2022, the world had more than 1.1 billion goats, and 150 million of them lived in India.

Goats also show up in stories and beliefs worldwide. Greek myth has Amalthea, Norse tales put goats in front of Thor's chariot, and Scandinavia has the Yule goat. Hinduism includes the goat-headed Daksha, and the Israelites performed a scapegoat ritual. That long list shows how closely goats have lived alongside people for thousands of years, on farms and in the stories people tell.

Did you know?

• The domestic goat's scientific name is Capra hircus, though it is also listed as Capra aegagrus hircus.
• India alone had about 150 million goats in 2022.
• Goats belong to the same family as cattle and antelope, Bovidae.