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Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
If you’re a pet owner, you might have wondered how many other people in your town, state, or country also own pets. But have you ever considered how many people across the world are parents to animals? It should come as no surprise that there are a plethora of pet owners worldwide!
You’re in luck if you’re interested in learning more about global pet ownership. We’re discussing pet ownership in the U.S., Europe, South America, and Asia below, so keep reading to learn more about pet owners worldwide!
The 20 Global Pet Ownership Statistics
- 66% of households in the United States own pets.
- U.S. households have an approximate total of 62 million pet dogs and 37 million pet cats.
- Freshwater aquarium fish win the top pet award, as there are 139.3 million total in the United States.
- About 2.5% of U.S. households have at least one bird as a pet.
- 33% of millennials in the United States are pet owners.
- 46% of European households own a pet.
- 26% of households in Europe own felines, while 25% own canines.
- Russia has the most cat owners worldwide, with 59% of Russians owning cats.
- Romania wins the “Most Balanced Pet Ownership Award,” as 45% of households own a cat and 45% own a dog.
- There are around 9.3 million dogs in Spain.
- Brazil is home to 58.5% of the South American pet population.
- Brazil has 55 million dogs.
- 53% of households in Peru are dog owners versus 23% who are cat owners.
- Approximately 80 million pets live in Mexico.
- Argentina is home to around 9.2 million canines and 3 million felines.
- There are approximately 400 million felines in Asia.
- China has a canine population of about 54.29 million.
- Roughly 32 million pet dogs are living in India.
- About 4.54 million South Korean households are home to dogs, while 1.12 million are home to cats.
- Japan is expected to have a feline population of about 8.6 million by 2028.
Pet Ownership in the U.S.
1. 66% of households in the United States own pets.
(MarketWatch)
Americans love pets! As of 2024, approximately 66% of U.S. households (or 86.9 million) owned at least one pet. That’s a lot of animals living in homes; in fact, the United States tops the list for pet ownership worldwide.
2. U.S. households have an approximate total of 62 million pet dogs and 37 million pet cats.
(AVMA)
Canines win out over cats when it comes to pets in America, with 62 million households owning at least one dog. Cats come in second, though, with 37 million U.S. households having at least one feline. That’s a lot of furry friends, but neither of these is the most-owned pet in the United States.
3. Freshwater aquarium fish win the top pet award, as there are 139.3 million total in the United States.
(Spots)
While you might think that cats and dogs would be the most popular pets, freshwater aquarium fish are the most owned pets in America, with households owning around 139.3 million. This could be due to the fact that fish are typically a bit easier to care for than dogs and cats, or people may simply prefer fish!
4. About 2.5% of U.S. households have at least one bird as a pet.
(AVMA)
Birds aren’t among the most popular pets in the United States, but they do beat out pet horses. They are almost equal to the percentage of people who own pet fish, as 2.7% million households own these animals versus 2.5% who own birds.
5. 33% of millennials in the United States are pet owners.
(Statista)
Millennials own the most pets in America! Gen X came in second place, with 25% of this generation owning at least one pet, while Boomers came in third, with 24% owning pets. It shouldn’t be long before Gen Z catches up to millennials, though.
Pet Ownership in Europe
6. 46% of European households own a pet.
(European Pet Food)
Europeans like pets almost as much as Americans! An approximate total of 340 million pets live in 46% (91 million) of European households. Some of these households own only a single pet, while others own multiple pets.
7. 26% of households in Europe own felines, while 25% own canines.
(European Pet Food)
Of the 340 million pets in Europe, felines make up 127 million, with 26% of European households owning at least one cat. Dogs make up 104 million, with 25% of European households being dog parents. Following those top pets, the pet population consists of about 53 million pet birds, 29 million small pets, 22 million fish, and only 11 million critters living in terrariums.
8. Russia has the most cat owners worldwide, with 59% of Russians owning cats.
(Statista)
Russia sure does love felines! This country has the most cat owners worldwide, with 59% of people owning at least one cat. Many of these kitties come from the streets, so there’s less of a stray population in Russia than in other countries, too.
9. Romania wins the “Most Balanced Pet Ownership Award,” as 45% of households own a cat and 45% own a dog.
(Pet Secure)
If you’re looking for an equal number of households owning cats and dogs, you’ll have to travel to Romania. This country has a perfect balance when it comes to pet ownership, with 45% of households owning a cat and 45% owning a dog. Looks like there’s equal love for furry friends in this country!
10. There are around 9.3 million dogs in Spain.
(Statista)
Those living in Spain are fond of their dogs. This country has around 9.3 million pet dogs, and about 27% of households in Spain own canines. In comparison, the country only has approximately 5.86 million pet cats.
Pet Ownership in South America
11. Brazil is home to 58.5% of the South American pet population.
(Mordor Intelligence)
A majority of the South American pet population lives in Brazil, with a total of 156.4 million pets in the country. This is likely due to Brazil’s large human population. Brazil is also the largest pet food market in South America, accounting for a whopping 63.6% of this market in 2022.
12. Brazil has 55 million dogs.
(World Population Review)
When it comes to pet dog populations, Brazil comes in second place after the U.S., with 55 million dogs in the country. Fun fact: the Brazilian Mastiff is the national dog and one of the most popular in the country!
13. 53% of households in Peru are dog owners versus 23% who are cat owners.
(Pet Food Industry)
Canines also win out for favorite pets in Peru, as far fewer households own cats than dogs. Peru also buys 88 thousand tons of pet food annually for all those pets. The country was expected to spend roughly $404 million on their pets in 2023.
14. Approximately 80 million pets live in Mexico.
(The Yucatan Times)
These 80 million pets live in only around 25 million Mexican households. 54.75% are canines, while 20.25% are felines, meaning dogs win out again as the favorite. 25% of these pets are birds or fish.
15. Argentina is home to around 9.2 million canines and 3 million felines.
(World Population Review)
Once again, dogs are the clear winner of the “Favorite Pet Award.” Argentina has a much smaller pet population than some other countries in South America, only being home to roughly 9.2 million dogs and 3 million cats. Still, that’s quite a few furry companions!
Pet Ownership in Asia
16. There are approximately 400 million felines in Asia.
(IFAW)
Most of the felines in the world live in Asia, with the country boasting a kitty population of 400 million. That’s a ton of cats! Not all these felines are pets, but many are.
17. China has a canine population of about 54.29 million.
(World Population Review)
Even though many large cities in China have a one-dog-per-household policy, China still has a large number of canines. In fact, China outranks every other Asian country when it comes to dog ownership. Some of the country’s favorite dogs include the Shar Pei, Tibetan Mastiff, and Pekingese.
18. Roughly 32 million pet dogs are living in India.
(World Atlas)
India comes in second when it comes to dog ownership in Asia, with 32 million pet dogs. There’s also a quite sizable population of stray dogs in this country, as at least 20 million (if not more) free-range pups roam the country.
19. About 4.54 million South Korean households are home to dogs, while 1.12 million are home to cats.
(Mordor Intelligence)
South Korea isn’t home to many pet owners, as it only boasts 4.54 million households with dogs and 1.12 million with cats. Still, that means approximately 1 in every 4 South Korean adults owns a pet. The number of households owning pets is on the rise, though, so those numbers may soon change.
20. Japan is expected to have a feline population of about 8.6 million by 2028.
(Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
According to Canada’s Agriculture Department, Japan’s pet feline population is expected to reach 8.6 million by 2028. In contrast, the canine population is only predicted to reach 6.2 million. In 2023, 4.88 million households in the country were cat parents.
Frequently Asked Questions About Global Pet Ownership
You might have more questions about global pet ownership, so here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about the subject.
What country has the fewest pets?
While the country with the fewest pets is unclear, the Maldives has a total ban on dogs due to religious beliefs, so there are no dogs in the country. Many countries in the Middle East also aren’t fond of canines due to religious beliefs (although most believe felines are pure), so most of the countries having few pets are likely to be found in that region.
How many pet dogs are there globally?
It’s thought that around 30% of households worldwide own at least one canine companion. (World Population Review)
How many pet cats are there globally?
Approximately one-quarter of all pet owners own a feline. (Health For Animals)
How much do people around the world spend on their pets each year?
According to Bloomberg, in 2023, the global pet industry market was $320 billion. That number is predicted to increase to nearly $500 million by 2030! (Bloomberg)
Conclusion
There’s no doubt about it; people worldwide love pets! The majority of countries in the world have many pet owners, and in most places, dogs are the most popular pets around. Felines come in a close second, though, typically followed by birds and fish. The number of people owning pets will likely only increase in the future, too. However, there are still more stray animals out there than people willing to adopt them, and the stray population will also continue to grow.
Featured Image Credit: Maria Galutva, Shutterstock
