The total world camel population is estimated at 18.831 million (base 1994 FAO), out of which Africa has 13.815 million (73.36 %), Asia 4.761 million (25.28 %) and the remaining world has only 0.255 million (1.36 %). Developing countries have 98.6 % camels and the developed countries have only 1.4% of the world camel population. 

Amongst the countries having highest camel population in the world, India stands third (1.520 millions) after Somalia (6.000 million) and Sudan (2.856million). 

The Indian Camel population is mostly confined to the north-western part of the country. Rajasthan (0.719 million), Haryana (0.128 million), Punjab(0.43 million) and Gujarat (0.058 million) inhabitates almost 93.12 % of Indian camel population (base, 1987). The other states where the camel occurs in substantial numbers are Uttar Pradesh (0.036 million) and Madhya Pradesh (0.015 million). Eleven arid districts of Rajasthan (0.567 million) contribute 78.86 % to the total Rajasthan camel population and 55.70 % to the Indian camel population. 
 

The camel is utilized mainly for ploughing, transport of man and agriculture produce, drawing water from deep wells, and extraction of oil from oilseeds. 

Camels can generate a draft force equivalent to 17-22 % of its body weight and can supply 
1.1 hp bioenergy continuously for long periods. A survey (1993) on the use of camel draught power as source of livelihood revealed that average net income to the camel cart owners ranged from Rs.2,000/- to Rs.5,000/- per month per cart. 

Evaluation studies on Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) in Rajasthan indicated that average increase in income of the beneficiaries was highest amongst people who were given loan for the purchase of camels and camel carts. 

Important camel products are milk, hair, hide dung and bones. Camel milk has lesser social acceptance than cow milk. And like goat milk, it is used mainly by the camel rearing communities. According to Ayurveda, camel milk has medicinal properties. There is a taboo against the killing of camel for meat in India but there are many castes which eat camel meat on special occasions or otherwise. 

Long camel bones are in demand as cheap replacement of ivory. The hair is being utilized for making carpets durries, bags, blankets, wall-hangings by the farmers and also village level handicraft industry. 

There are three major breeds of Camel in India viz. Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri and Kutchi. 

The Bikaneri has excellent draft capabilities and is therefore becoming the breed of choice of the farmers of the Thar desert (NW Rajasthan). 

The Jaisalmeri camel has good race potential and therefore was important breed before advent of modern camel cart. They were preferred in cavalries in the past life Ganga Risala which took part in World War I and II. Presently the Camel Corps constitutes an important wing of the Border Security Force of Indian para-military service. 

Kutchi breed (Kutch region of Gujarat) has good milk potential. 

Besides these three, other distinguishable strains of camel are Mewari, Marwari, Sindhi, Shekhawati, Mewati and Riverine. Detail scientific evaluation at molecular level of Indian camel breeds is not available.