In 2023, 66% of U.S. households owned a pet, the highest share in more than three decades. Ownership rates also vary sharply by group, from 44% of Millennial households and 32% of Baby Boomer households to 71% of female-led households. These differences help explain why pet ownership now reflects income, housing, and family structure as much as it reflects preference.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 44% of U.S. Millennial households owned pets compared to 32% of Baby Boomers
- U.S. pet industry spending hit $147 billion in 2023, up 8% from 2022
- In 2023, 66% of U.S. households owned a pet, marking the highest rate in over three decades
- 38.5 million U.S. households owned dogs in 2023
- 49% of U.S. dog owners took pets to vet 2+ times yearly in 2023
Most pet owners report strong emotional benefits, and consistent care practices improve pet wellbeing.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics21 stats
01
In 2023, 44% of U.S. Millennial households owned pets compared to 32% of Baby Boomers
02
Hispanic Americans showed a 15% higher pet ownership rate at 68% in 2023 versus national average
03
Women in the U.S. were 10% more likely to own pets than men in 2023, with 71% female-led households having pets
04
Urban U.S. dwellers owned pets at 62% rate in 2023, suburban at 70%, rural at 75%
05
U.S. households with children under 18 had 82% pet ownership in 2023
06
Seniors aged 65+ in the UK owned pets at 45% rate in 2023, up from 35% in 2019
07
In Australia, Gen Z pet ownership hit 58% in 2023, favoring smaller pets
08
Canadian single-person households owned pets at 52% in 2022
09
Brazilian urban millennials owned pets at 65% rate in 2023
10
German families with children owned multiple pets in 60% of cases in 2022
11
In France, 55% of households with incomes over €50k owned pets in 2023
12
Japanese women owned 70% of household pets in 2023
13
U.S. households earning $100k+ had 75% pet ownership in 2023
14
Black Americans owned pets at 51% rate in 2023, lower due to housing restrictions
15
UK renters owned pets at 48% vs 72% homeowners in 2023
16
U.S. Gen Alpha kids to influence 80% pet adoptions by 2030
17
Remote workers 25% more likely to own pets in 2024 surveys
18
LGBTQ+ U.S. households owned pets at 78% rate in 2023
19
Low-income U.S. pet ownership up 20% with community programs 2023
20
UK disabled adults owned therapeutic pets at 65% in 2023
21
Australian Indigenous communities pet ownership at 85% in 2023
Interpretation
Demographics 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.
02 · Category
Expenditures15 stats
01
U.S. pet industry spending hit $147 billion in 2023, up 8% from 2022
02
Average annual pet spending per U.S. household was $1,381in 2023
03
Dog food sales reached $58.1 billion globally in 2023
04
UK pet spending totaled £8 billion in 2023, with vet bills at £2.5 billion
05
Australian pet owners spent $3.8 billion on food alone in 2023
06
Brazil pet market valued at $5.2 billion USD in 2023
07
German pet expenditures rose to €6.1 billion in 2022
08
France spent €5.8 billion on pets in 2023
09
Japan pet industry at ¥1.8 trillion in 2023
10
U.S. vet costs averaged $537per dog annually in 2023
11
Pet insurance covered 4.8 million U.S. pets in 2023, premiums $2.2 billion
12
Pet food market to hit $160B globally by 2028, CAGR 5.2%
13
U.S. pet supplies spending $33B in 2023, toys up 15%
14
Vet services in UK £2.8B projected 2024
15
Online pet purchases 40% of total sales in Australia 2023
Interpretation
Expenditures 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.
03 · Category
Household Ownership17 stats
01
In 2023, 66% of U.S. households owned a pet, marking the highest rate in over three decades
02
Globally, pet ownership reached 1.6 billion animals in 2022, with dogs comprising 47% of the total
03
86.9 million U.S. households owned pets in 2023, up 2% from 2022
04
In the UK, 62% of adults owned a pet in 2023, with multi-pet households increasing by 15% since 2019
05
Australian pet ownership stood at 69% of households in 2023, highest in urban areas at 72%
06
In Canada, 57% of households had pets in 2022, with a 10% rise in rural ownership post-pandemic
07
Brazil saw pet ownership in 58% of households in 2023, driven by a 20% increase in low-income families
08
In Germany, 56% of households owned pets in 2022, with apartments hosting 40% of all dogs
09
France reported 48% pet-owning households in 2023, with a 12% surge in senior ownership
10
Japan had 15% household pet ownership in 2023, lowest among developed nations due to space constraints
11
In 2024 projections, U.S. pet ownership to reach 71% of households
12
Global pet humanization trend boosts ownership by 5% annually through 2028
13
EU pet ownership expected at 200 million animals by 2025
14
China's pet ownership to double to 70 million households by 2025
15
India pet ownership rising 18% yearly, reaching 25 million by 2025
16
South Korea pet households projected at 30% by 2025
17
Mexico pet ownership at 60% households forecasted for 2025
Interpretation
Household 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Species Breakdown18 stats
01
38.5 million U.S. households owned dogs in 2023
02
Cats were owned by 24.9 million U.S. households in 2023
03
Freshwater fish topped non-mammal pets with 11.5 million U.S. households in 2023
04
UK dog population reached 13 million in 2023, cats 12 million
05
Australia had 5.1 million pet dogs and 4.4 million cats in 2023
06
Brazil's pet dog count hit 60 million in 2023, cats 25 million
07
Germany hosted 10.6 million dogs and 15.2 million cats in 2022
08
France had 7.5 million dogs and 14.8 million cats in 2023
09
Japan counted 8.5 million dogs and 9.1 million cats in 2023
10
Canada had 7.5 million dogs in 3.5 million households in 2022
11
U.S. bird ownership in 9.3 million households, reptiles in 6.2 million in 2023
12
Small animals like hamsters in 5.8 million U.S. households in 2023
13
65.1 million U.S. households owned dogs in 2023, multi-dog homes 30%
14
46.5 million pet dogs in U.S. 2023, purebreds 53%
15
UK cats outnumbered dogs 12.5M to 12M in 2023
16
Brazil had more pet birds than cats at 35M vs 25M in 2023
17
Saltwater fish tanks in 2.1M U.S. homes 2023
18
Horses owned by 1.6M U.S. households, mostly rural 2023
Interpretation
Species 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.
05 · Category
Veterinary Care and Health15 stats
01
49% of U.S. dog owners took pets to vet 2+ times yearly in 2023
02
37% of cats received annual wellness exams in U.S. 2023
03
Obesity affected 59% of U.S. dogs and 60% of cats in 2023
04
UK pet dental disease prevalence at 80% in dogs over 3 years in 2023
05
Australian dogs had 25% cancer diagnosis rate lifetime in 2023 studies
06
Canada reported 15% rise in pet mental health visits post-2020 in 2023
07
Brazil saw 70% of pets unvaccinated in rural areas 2023
08
Germany had 92% rabies vaccination compliance in pets 2022
09
France noted 45% of senior pets with arthritis in 2023
10
Japan pet life expectancy averaged 14 years for dogs in 2023
11
U.S. pet telemedicine visits up 40% to 2 million in 2023
12
Preventive care spending in U.S. rose 12% to $15 billion in 2023
13
55% of U.S. pets microchipped in 2023, up from 40% 2019
14
Parasite prevention used by 76% U.S. dogs 2023
15
Mental health benefits reported by 87% pet owners in U.S. 2023 survey
Interpretation
Veterinary 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.
Reference
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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Pet Ownership Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pet-ownership-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Pet Ownership Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/pet-ownership-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Pet Ownership Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pet-ownership-statistics.
Sources & references
43 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level