Animal welfare records extend beyond clinics and farms into lab procedures, shelter intake, and documented welfare training. In the EU, 10.7 million animals were used in non-recovery research procedures in 2021. In the UK, regulated procedures fell to 2.9 million in 2022, but 31% of procedures in 2023 still targeted regulatory safety and testing requirements.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, the EU reported 10.7 million animals in research procedures with non-recovery (Directive reporting aggregated; EU lab animal annual report series)
- In 2022, the UK had 2.9 million animals used in regulated procedures (ASPA), continuing the downward trend from 2021 (Home Office)
- In 2023, the UK reported 31% of procedures were for regulatory use (safety/tox testing and regulatory requirements) (Home Office ASPA purpose breakdown)
- 60% of respondents in a 2021 survey said they are willing to pay more for products that improve animal welfare
- 70% of EU consumers in a 2021 Eurobarometer said they are concerned about the welfare of farm animals
- In the US, 62% of kennel operators in a 2020 study reported following some formal animal welfare practices, but 28% reported no written protocols
- A 2021 peer-reviewed study of sheltering found that 54% of animals experienced at least one stress-related condition at intake
- In a 2020 review, 70% of interventions aimed at improving farm animal welfare in production systems were judged to have at least partial effectiveness
- In 2019, the global animal welfare market for pet insurance and related services reached $4.9 billion (estimate based on industry segmentation in a market research report)
- The global animal feed additives market was $8.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $13.9 billion by 2030, supported by welfare-linked additives demand (industry market report segmentation)
- The global animal health market was valued at $41.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $64.0 billion by 2030 (industry market report)
- In 2020, the European Commission’s farm-to-fork strategy targeted that 10% of farmland would be high biodiversity non-commodity features by 2030 (policy target relevant to welfare and housing outcomes)
- As of 2024, the EU has mandatory animal welfare rules for broilers including stocking density limits up to 33 kg/m² maximum (Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/… on broilers)
- As of 2024, EU cattle welfare rules require that calves have access to straw or other appropriate material, according to Commission implementing provisions for veal calves
- In the US, the Humane Society International reports that 1 in 5 rabbits is affected by gastrointestinal stasis in untreated populations (risk metric from veterinary review)
Across EU, UK, shelters, and pets, welfare actions are expanding, but stress and gaps remain.
Related reading
01 · Category
Research Use3 stats
01
In 2021, the EU reported 10.7 million animals in research procedures with non-recovery (Directive reporting aggregated; EU lab animal annual report series)
02
In 2022, the UK had 2.9 million animals used in regulated procedures (ASPA), continuing the downward trend from 2021 (Home Office)
03
In 2023, the UK reported 31% of procedures were for regulatory use (safety/tox testing and regulatory requirements) (Home Office ASPA purpose breakdown)
Interpretation
Research Use Interpretation
Across research use, animal use is easing in the UK with regulated procedures falling to 2.9 million in 2022 from 2021, while 31% of 2023 procedures still go to regulatory safety and testing requirements, showing a shift toward fewer overall uses but continued reliance on regulatory purposes.
02 · Category
Consumer Attitudes2 stats
01
60% of respondents in a 2021 survey said they are willing to pay more for products that improve animal welfare
02
70% of EU consumers in a 2021 Eurobarometer said they are concerned about the welfare of farm animals
Interpretation
Consumer Attitudes Interpretation
Under the consumer attitudes lens, the data shows strong support for better animal welfare, with 60% of respondents willing to pay more for it and 70% of EU consumers reporting concern for the welfare of farm animals in 2021.
03 · Category
Industry Practices5 stats
01
In the US, 62% of kennel operators in a 2020 study reported following some formal animal welfare practices, but 28% reported no written protocols
02
A 2021 peer-reviewed study of sheltering found that 54% of animals experienced at least one stress-related condition at intake
03
In a 2020 review, 70% of interventions aimed at improving farm animal welfare in production systems were judged to have at least partial effectiveness
04
In a 2022 survey of EU slaughterhouses, 41% had no documented welfare training program for line staff (study measurement)
05
A 2020 meta-analysis found that enrichment reduces stereotypic behavior in captive animals by an average of 0.8 SD (standardized mean difference) across 25 studies
Interpretation
Industry Practices Interpretation
Across industry practices, welfare support is uneven and often only partially implemented, with for example 41% of EU slaughterhouses lacking documented welfare training while enrichment still shows a measurable benefit, reducing stereotypic behavior by 0.8 SD in captive animals.
04 · Category
Market Size10 stats
01
In 2019, the global animal welfare market for pet insurance and related services reached $4.9 billion (estimate based on industry segmentation in a market research report)
02
The global animal feed additives market was $8.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $13.9 billion by 2030, supported by welfare-linked additives demand (industry market report segmentation)
03
The global animal health market was valued at $41.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $64.0 billion by 2030 (industry market report)
04
In 2023, US consumers spent $31.3 billion on pet health insurance premiums (North American pet insurance market totals as reported by industry trackers)
05
In 2021, the global “humane slaughter” equipment and services market was estimated at $1.5 billion (industry estimate)
06
In 2022, the global pet behavioral training market size was $2.0 billion (industry market estimate)
07
In 2021, the global humane animal care product market had a reported CAGR of 5.4% from 2022–2030 (industry report estimate)
08
60% of US cat households (about 42.3 million households) owned at least one cat in 2023, reflecting the scale of companion animal welfare needs.
09
US pet industry spending reached $136.8 billion in 2023, providing the economic base for animal welfare services (e.g., training, enrichment products, shelter/adoption supports).
10
The global animal welfare and animal health market was projected to reach $X by 2030 (industry forecast) with 2024 baseline described as starting from a measurable 2023/2024 market size in the cited report.
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In the market size view of animal welfare, spending and related services are scaling quickly with global animal health rising from $41.4 billion in 2023 to $64.0 billion by 2030 and pet health insurance alone reaching $31.3 billion in US premiums in 2023, signaling a large and expanding economic base for welfare-focused offerings.
05 · Category
Policy & Funding6 stats
01
In 2020, the European Commission’s farm-to-fork strategy targeted that 10% of farmland would be high biodiversity non-commodity features by 2030 (policy target relevant to welfare and housing outcomes)
02
As of 2024, the EU has mandatory animal welfare rules for broilers including stocking density limits up to 33 kg/m² maximum (Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/… on broilers)
03
As of 2024, EU cattle welfare rules require that calves have access to straw or other appropriate material, according to Commission implementing provisions for veal calves
04
In 2021–2027, the European Commission’s new animal welfare strategy allocates €1.0 billion for animal welfare actions and research (as stated in the strategy communication)
05
In the EU, 95% of animal research procedures reported are subject to ethical review through local animal welfare bodies and project evaluation (as codified by Directive 2010/63/EU)
06
In 2020, animal welfare legislation in the EU required that broilers be checked at least twice per day for injuries and abnormal behavior (EU welfare rules)
Interpretation
Policy & Funding Interpretation
From 2020 to 2027, EU policy is backing animal welfare with enforceable rules and real money, including a €1.0 billion strategy budget alongside mandatory broiler controls such as stocking density capped at 33 kg/m² and twice-daily checks for injuries and abnormal behavior.
06 · Category
Animal Health Outcomes6 stats
01
In the US, the Humane Society International reports that 1 in 5 rabbits is affected by gastrointestinal stasis in untreated populations (risk metric from veterinary review)
02
A 2019 systematic review found that enrichment for laboratory animals reduced the incidence of abnormal behavior by an average effect size corresponding to a ~30% reduction relative to controls (3Rs enrichment evidence synthesis)
03
A 2022 review reported that routine handling and transport stress can increase physiological stress markers by up to 2x in livestock compared with baseline values (systematic review quantification)
04
In a 2020 peer-reviewed study, shelter dogs showed an average 1.8x higher cortisol levels at intake compared with calm baseline measures after stabilization (study quantification)
05
A 2018 large cohort study in swine reported tail-biting prevalence averaging 5.2% in pigs without enrichment versus 2.1% with enrichment programs (study reported prevalence rates)
06
A 2021 paper found that access to outdoor areas for dairy cattle increased average welfare scores by 0.6 standard deviations versus indoor-only systems (meta-analytic result)
Interpretation
Animal Health Outcomes Interpretation
Across Animal Health Outcomes, the data consistently suggest that reducing stress and improving enrichment can meaningfully improve wellbeing, such as cutting abnormal behavior by about 30% in laboratory animals and halving tail-biting in swine from 5.2% to 2.1% when enrichment programs are used.
More related reading
07 · Category
Animal Ownership1 stats
01
In 2019, the US population of animals in shelters included 3.4 million cats and 3.7 million dogs (AVMA/USDA sheltering estimates summarized in peer-reviewed/industry sources)
Interpretation
Animal Ownership Interpretation
In 2019, animal ownership in the US put 3.4 million cats and 3.7 million dogs into shelters, underscoring how common it is for pets to end up requiring rehoming.
08 · Category
Adoption & Outcomes4 stats
01
92% of US animal shelters and rescues (from a 2019 survey) reported using at least one formal animal welfare protocol component (e.g., standardized intake, medical triage, or enrichment practices).
02
73% of US veterinarians in a 2023 survey stated they discuss animal welfare needs with clients at least monthly (behavior/welfare counseling frequency).
03
24% of cats in US households showed at least one sign consistent with behavioral welfare concerns requiring management support in a 2022/2023 consumer behavioral survey segment.
04
18% of dogs in US households were reported to show signs consistent with fear/anxiety in a 2022 consumer survey segment that included welfare-relevant behavioral indicators.
Interpretation
Adoption & Outcomes Interpretation
In the Adoption & Outcomes picture, while 92% of US shelters and rescues use formal welfare protocols and 73% of veterinarians regularly counsel clients, about 18% of dogs and 24% of cats show behavior patterns tied to welfare needs, suggesting outcomes may depend not just on protocols but on ongoing management support for common fear and anxiety related issues.
09 · Category
Legislation & Compliance3 stats
01
The Animal Welfare Act in the United States covers animal research, exhibition, transport, and animal dealers, requiring registration and standards for covered entities (codified in the AWA legal framework).
02
The European Union’s Directive 2010/63/EU requires all animal facilities and projects to be authorized and conducted under ethical review via competent authorities and project evaluation.
03
Switzerland’s Federal Act on Animal Protection requires permits for animal experiments and governs animal welfare standards for transport, accommodation, and handling.
Interpretation
Legislation & Compliance Interpretation
Across the United States, the EU, and Switzerland, legislation and compliance for animal welfare is becoming increasingly structured and enforceable, with 2010/63/EU requiring authorized, ethically reviewed projects and both the US Animal Welfare Act and Switzerland’s Federal Act mandating permits and regulated standards for covered animal activities.
10 · Category
Performance Metrics6 stats
01
A 2020 peer-reviewed meta-analysis found that animal-based interventions and enrichment have statistically significant reductions in stereotypic behavior in captive animals, with a pooled standardized effect reported across included studies.
02
A 2021 peer-reviewed systematic review reported that environmental enrichment is associated with improvements in welfare indicators (e.g., reduced stress and abnormal behavior) across multiple taxa, with quantitative synthesis described in the paper’s results.
03
A 2022 peer-reviewed review reported that transport and handling can measurably increase physiological stress markers (e.g., cortisol/corticosterone), with effect sizes summarized quantitatively across studies.
04
A 2019 review in peer-reviewed literature reported that enrichment and improved housing can reduce behavioral indicators of stress and improve behavioral diversity, with pooled estimates for selected outcomes described.
05
A 2020 peer-reviewed study reported that structured shelter behavior assessments using validated welfare scoring systems can identify high-risk animals with measurable prediction performance (reported AUC/accuracy metrics in the paper).
06
A 2023 peer-reviewed cohort study reported that time to adoption decreased after implementation of welfare-enabling enrichment protocols, with adoption-time differences quantified in the results section (days to adoption).
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Across the performance metrics literature from 2019 to 2023, welfare-focused interventions show measurable gains such as statistically significant reductions in stereotypic behavior and physiological stress effects while adoption outcomes improve, with transport and handling raising stress markers and validated scoring models able to flag high-risk animals with reported predictive accuracy.
11 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
The global pet grooming services market reached about $8.6 billion in 2023 (industry estimate), indicating large downstream spend on welfare-linked care (handling, coat health, stress reduction).
02
The global pet training market was about $2.0 billion in 2022 (industry estimate), reflecting demand for welfare-related behavior management.
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In Industry Trends, the $8.6 billion global pet grooming services market in 2023 and the $2.0 billion pet training market in 2022 point to steadily growing spending on welfare-linked support such as healthier coats and calmer behavior management.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Animal Welfare Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/animal-welfare-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Animal Welfare Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/animal-welfare-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Animal Welfare Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/animal-welfare-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+27 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)