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No matter where you go in the world, humans are bound to have a pet of some kind. Whether it’s a dog, cat, fish, or lizard, a lot of us crave pet companionship. While you’re probably aware that most people in the United States have multiple pets in one household, how do Australians compare to the US? Do they love pets as much as the rest of the world? They certainly do! There are almost 29 million pets in Australia. Keep reading to find out some interesting facts and statistics about pets in Australia!
In this guide, we’ll give you a range of interesting Australian pet ownership stats and facts, including, statistics about each type of pet, along with some interesting about people and their pets.
The 10 Australia Pet Ownership Statistics
- There are almost 29 million pets in Australia.
- Australia has similar pet ownership rates to the United States.
- The average number of pets per household in Australia is 1.3 dogs and 1.6 cats.
- Out of all pet owners in Australia, 48% of them own dogs.
- Over 30% of pet owners have a cat.
- Fish are the third most popular pet in Australia.
- Pet ownership in Australia is most prevalent among people under 65 years old.
- Two-thirds of Australians have at least one pet.
- Those who grew up with pets during childhood are more likely to own pets as adults.
- Companionship, affection, and comfort are some of the top reported reasons for owning a pet in Australia.
General Australian Pet Statistics
1. There are almost 29 million pets in Australia.
(RSPCA)
With 28.7 million pets found in the country of Australia, it has some of the highest pet ownership rates in the world. Around 64% of pet owners are females, and 65% of owners come from households that make over $50,000 per year. Dogs and cats are the most popular choices, but birds, fish, reptiles, and other small mammals are top choices as well.
2. Australia has similar pet ownership rates to the United States.
(Canstar)
The way we compare pet ownership statistics by state is similar to the pet ownership statistics by territory in Australia. According to Canstar.com, these are the percentages of pet owners in each Australian territory:
- Northern Territory (82%)
- Australian Capital Territory (75%)
- South Australia (68%)
- Tasmania (66%)
- Victoria (65%)
- New South Wales (60%)
- Queensland (58%)
- Western Australia (57%)
These statistics prove just how much Australians love their pets. In fact, there are a higher proportion of people living in houses with cats and dogs than with children! The ratio of pets to the human population in Australia is 101:100. This ratio means that there are more animal companions in Australia than there are humans.
3. The average number of pets per household in Australia is 1.3 dogs and 1.6 cats.
(Animal Medicines)
The average number of pets per household in Australia has remained fairly steady over the past few years. While the average number of dogs per household stayed about the same since 2019, cats increased from 1.4 to 1.6 cats per household. Other types of pets, including fish, birds, reptiles, and small mammals, also remained fairly steady.
Statistics for Each Type of Pet
4. Out of all pet owners in Australia, 48% of them own dogs.
(RSPCA)
With dogs often being the most popular pets in most countries around the world, many people wonder how many dogs are in Australia. About 48% of pets are dogs, with there being over 6 million dogs total.
5. Over 30% of pet owners have a cat.
(RSPCA)
As you’d expect, cats are the next most popular type of pet across the world as well as in Australia. How many cats are in Australia? With 33% pet ownership, there are over 5 million pet cats found in the country.
6. Fish are the third most popular pet in Australia.
(Pursuit)
How many pet birds (or other pets) are there in Australia? The next most popular type of pet found in Australia is, surprisingly, fish. Fish make up 18% of pets, and birds make up only 16%. Below that are horses at 3.6%, and the rest, such as small mammals and reptiles, make up around 17%.
Pets and People
7. Pet ownership in Australia is most prevalent among people under 65 years old.
(Pursuit)
It isn’t too surprising that younger groups of people are more likely to own a pet. People under the age of 25 and people who are between the ages of 45 and 54 are the age groups that are most likely to be pet owners. Those under 25 years old make up 14.9% of pet owners while those aged 45 to 54 total 15.2% of pet owners. However, people over 65 years old only account for 11.1% of all pet owners in Australia.
8. Two-thirds of Australians have at least one pet.
(Pursuit)
Whether it’s cats, dogs, fish, gerbils, lizards, or something else, a whopping two-thirds of the entire country of Australia owns a pet.
9. Those who grew up with pets during childhood are more likely to own pets as adults.
(Animal Medicines)
A study found that people who grew up with pets were much more likely to have their own pets as adults. There were quite a few who ended up with different types of pets or different breeds than they envisioned, but many people reported that they also wanted their children to experience the joy they felt around animals as kids.
10. Companionship, affection, and comfort are some of the top reported reasons for owning a pet in Australia.
(Animal Medicines)
It’s not surprising that affection and companionship were some of the top reasons for people to own pets. One study found that pet owners often led more active lifestyles and had more routine throughout their day than those without pets. You can’t deny that pets make humans both physically and mentally healthier in many ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have time for a pet?
It’s crucial to understand the actual amount of time required to take care of an animal. While these things may differ based on the type of animal you have, almost all pets require some form of exercise, food, grooming, socialization, playtime, and training. All of these can take up a significant amount of time in your day-to-day life, and you have to be willing to commit to that responsibility.
What do I need to know before getting a new pet?
It’s always better to seriously consider if something is right for you before jumping into an unfamiliar situation. Owning a pet can be an extremely rewarding process, and they easily become a part of the family. However, you also have to be willing to commit a huge portion of time and money to them. It helps to plan out how much your pet is going to cost before deciding if you can afford one. Account for their housing, food, toys, grooming, and veterinary care. If you can afford these, then you can consider whether the time commitment is possible and worth it for you personally.
Am I prepared to take care of a pet for its entire life?
Again, how long your pet lives depend largely on the type of animal you have. The average lifespan of dogs and cats is around 12 years, but some can live 15 to 20 years. If you can’t make that commitment, then you might want to search for a pet that has a shorter average lifespan.
Final Thoughts
Australian pet owners are not all that different than pet owners in the United States. It is safe to say that they love pets just as much and get the same joys and benefits from them as we do. With increasing human populations, the number of pets here is increasing as well, and it is nice that so many more animals get to experience the love they deserve.
Of course, these statistics are subject to change as time progresses. Even though it is nice to know how many pets are being loved, there are still many out there who aren’t given the lives they deserve. Before you decide to bring home a new pet, take some time to think about if that is something you truly want, and whether you can provide your pet with the appropriate food, water, exercise, socialization, space, habitat, and health care they need to thrive.
Featured Image Credit: Reddogs, Shutterstock
