With pets now found in a record-breaking two-thirds of American homes and billions of animal companions living worldwide, it's clear that our love for our furry, feathered, and scaled family members is a defining global phenomenon.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 66% of U.S. households owned a pet, marking the highest rate in over three decades
- Globally, pet ownership reached 1.6 billion animals in 2022, with dogs comprising 47% of the total
- 86.9 million U.S. households owned pets in 2023, up 2% from 2022
- In 2023, 44% of U.S. Millennial households owned pets compared to 32% of Baby Boomers
- Hispanic Americans showed a 15% higher pet ownership rate at 68% in 2023 versus national average
- Women in the U.S. were 10% more likely to own pets than men in 2023, with 71% female-led households having pets
- 38.5 million U.S. households owned dogs in 2023
- Cats were owned by 24.9 million U.S. households in 2023
- Freshwater fish topped non-mammal pets with 11.5 million U.S. households in 2023
- U.S. pet industry spending hit $147 billion in 2023, up 8% from 2022
- Average annual pet spending per U.S. household was $1,381 in 2023
- Dog food sales reached $58.1 billion globally in 2023
- 49% of U.S. dog owners took pets to vet 2+ times yearly in 2023
- 37% of cats received annual wellness exams in U.S. 2023
- Obesity affected 59% of U.S. dogs and 60% of cats in 2023
Pet ownership is growing globally as more households welcome animal companions.
Demographics
1In 2023, 44% of U.S. Millennial households owned pets compared to 32% of Baby Boomers
Verified2Hispanic Americans showed a 15% higher pet ownership rate at 68% in 2023 versus national average
Verified3Women in the U.S. were 10% more likely to own pets than men in 2023, with 71% female-led households having pets
Verified4Urban U.S. dwellers owned pets at 62% rate in 2023, suburban at 70%, rural at 75%
Directional5U.S. households with children under 18 had 82% pet ownership in 2023
Single source6Seniors aged 65+ in the UK owned pets at 45% rate in 2023, up from 35% in 2019
Verified7In Australia, Gen Z pet ownership hit 58% in 2023, favoring smaller pets
Verified8Canadian single-person households owned pets at 52% in 2022
Verified9Brazilian urban millennials owned pets at 65% rate in 2023
Directional10German families with children owned multiple pets in 60% of cases in 2022
Single source11In France, 55% of households with incomes over €50k owned pets in 2023
Verified12Japanese women owned 70% of household pets in 2023
Verified13U.S. households earning $100k+ had 75% pet ownership in 2023
Verified14Black Americans owned pets at 51% rate in 2023, lower due to housing restrictions
Directional15UK renters owned pets at 48% vs 72% homeowners in 2023
Single source16U.S. Gen Alpha kids to influence 80% pet adoptions by 2030
Verified17Remote workers 25% more likely to own pets in 2024 surveys
Verified18LGBTQ+ U.S. households owned pets at 78% rate in 2023
Verified19Low-income U.S. pet ownership up 20% with community programs 2023
Directional20UK disabled adults owned therapeutic pets at 65% in 2023
Single source21Australian Indigenous communities pet ownership at 85% in 2023
VerifiedDemographics Interpretation
While Millennials and Boomers debate who spoils their pets more, and city dwellers wonder if their apartment is too small for a Great Dane, the unifying truth is that across ages, incomes, and continents, we are increasingly choosing to share our homes and hearts with creatures that, statistically speaking, probably don't pay rent.
Expenditures
1U.S. pet industry spending hit $147 billion in 2023, up 8% from 2022
Verified2Average annual pet spending per U.S. household was $1,381 in 2023
Verified3Dog food sales reached $58.1 billion globally in 2023
Verified4UK pet spending totaled £8 billion in 2023, with vet bills at £2.5 billion
Directional5Australian pet owners spent $3.8 billion on food alone in 2023
Single source6Brazil pet market valued at $5.2 billion USD in 2023
Verified7German pet expenditures rose to €6.1 billion in 2022
Verified8France spent €5.8 billion on pets in 2023
Verified9Japan pet industry at ¥1.8 trillion in 2023
Directional10U.S. vet costs averaged $537 per dog annually in 2023
Single source11Pet insurance covered 4.8 million U.S. pets in 2023, premiums $2.2 billion
Verified12Pet food market to hit $160B globally by 2028, CAGR 5.2%
Verified13U.S. pet supplies spending $33B in 2023, toys up 15%
Verified14Vet services in UK £2.8B projected 2024
Directional15Online pet purchases 40% of total sales in Australia 2023
Single sourceExpenditures Interpretation
The world is treating pets better than ever, judging by the $147 billion we collectively spent on them last year—and frankly, they’re eating better than most of us.
Household Ownership
1In 2023, 66% of U.S. households owned a pet, marking the highest rate in over three decades
Verified2Globally, pet ownership reached 1.6 billion animals in 2022, with dogs comprising 47% of the total
Verified386.9 million U.S. households owned pets in 2023, up 2% from 2022
Verified4In the UK, 62% of adults owned a pet in 2023, with multi-pet households increasing by 15% since 2019
Directional5Australian pet ownership stood at 69% of households in 2023, highest in urban areas at 72%
Single source6In Canada, 57% of households had pets in 2022, with a 10% rise in rural ownership post-pandemic
Verified7Brazil saw pet ownership in 58% of households in 2023, driven by a 20% increase in low-income families
Verified8In Germany, 56% of households owned pets in 2022, with apartments hosting 40% of all dogs
Verified9France reported 48% pet-owning households in 2023, with a 12% surge in senior ownership
Directional10Japan had 15% household pet ownership in 2023, lowest among developed nations due to space constraints
Single source11In 2024 projections, U.S. pet ownership to reach 71% of households
Verified12Global pet humanization trend boosts ownership by 5% annually through 2028
Verified13EU pet ownership expected at 200 million animals by 2025
Verified14China's pet ownership to double to 70 million households by 2025
Directional15India pet ownership rising 18% yearly, reaching 25 million by 2025
Single source16South Korea pet households projected at 30% by 2025
Verified17Mexico pet ownership at 60% households forecasted for 2025
VerifiedHousehold Ownership Interpretation
The statistics reveal a world where, increasingly, the only thing spreading faster than a love for pets is the pets themselves, proving that in seeking companionship we may just be creating a global, furry-headed family.
Species Breakdown
138.5 million U.S. households owned dogs in 2023
Verified2Cats were owned by 24.9 million U.S. households in 2023
Verified3Freshwater fish topped non-mammal pets with 11.5 million U.S. households in 2023
Verified4UK dog population reached 13 million in 2023, cats 12 million
Directional5Australia had 5.1 million pet dogs and 4.4 million cats in 2023
Single source6Brazil's pet dog count hit 60 million in 2023, cats 25 million
Verified7Germany hosted 10.6 million dogs and 15.2 million cats in 2022
Verified8France had 7.5 million dogs and 14.8 million cats in 2023
Verified9Japan counted 8.5 million dogs and 9.1 million cats in 2023
Directional10Canada had 7.5 million dogs in 3.5 million households in 2022
Single source11U.S. bird ownership in 9.3 million households, reptiles in 6.2 million in 2023
Verified12Small animals like hamsters in 5.8 million U.S. households in 2023
Verified1365.1 million U.S. households owned dogs in 2023, multi-dog homes 30%
Verified1446.5 million pet dogs in U.S. 2023, purebreds 53%
Directional15UK cats outnumbered dogs 12.5M to 12M in 2023
Single source16Brazil had more pet birds than cats at 35M vs 25M in 2023
Verified17Saltwater fish tanks in 2.1M U.S. homes 2023
Verified18Horses owned by 1.6M U.S. households, mostly rural 2023
VerifiedSpecies Breakdown Interpretation
While the United States reigns supreme in dog-owning households, the global pet census reveals a furred, finned, and feathered truth: we are a planet hopelessly devoted to our animals, with cats quietly plotting world domination from second place.
Veterinary Care and Health
149% of U.S. dog owners took pets to vet 2+ times yearly in 2023
Verified237% of cats received annual wellness exams in U.S. 2023
Verified3Obesity affected 59% of U.S. dogs and 60% of cats in 2023
Verified4UK pet dental disease prevalence at 80% in dogs over 3 years in 2023
Directional5Australian dogs had 25% cancer diagnosis rate lifetime in 2023 studies
Single source6Canada reported 15% rise in pet mental health visits post-2020 in 2023
Verified7Brazil saw 70% of pets unvaccinated in rural areas 2023
Verified8Germany had 92% rabies vaccination compliance in pets 2022
Verified9France noted 45% of senior pets with arthritis in 2023
Directional10Japan pet life expectancy averaged 14 years for dogs in 2023
Single source11U.S. pet telemedicine visits up 40% to 2 million in 2023
Verified12Preventive care spending in U.S. rose 12% to $15 billion in 2023
Verified1355% of U.S. pets microchipped in 2023, up from 40% 2019
Verified14Parasite prevention used by 76% U.S. dogs 2023
Directional15Mental health benefits reported by 87% pet owners in U.S. 2023 survey
Single sourceVeterinary Care and Health Interpretation
It seems that while our pets are living their best, microchipped lives and granting us immense mental health benefits, we are collectively failing them as a global society when it comes to the fundamentals of preventive healthcare, dental hygiene, and weight management, creating a stark and often tragic disparity in their wellbeing.
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