People love their pets. The number of pet owners increases annually, and pet ownership stats around the world show millions of people experiencing the joy and unconditional love that only pets can provide.
Having a pet also offers countless benefits to the lifestyle of a modern man. Animal companions inspire owners to get in better shape and improve their mental health. Pets can even boost their owners’ dating game by making them seem more approachable and compassionate. In short, they’re both a perfect date magnet and a wingman.
So, whether you’re considering becoming a first-time owner in 2022 or you already have one or more pets, here are the most important facts and figures to know.
Top Ten Pet Ownership Statistics for 2022
- Owning a pet can help the 47% of men in the US who have high blood pressure.
- Women find men who have pets more attractive.
- Tel Aviv in Israel is the city with most dogs per capita, according to pet ownership statistics by city.
- According to dog statistics, pet-nup is an actual thing.
- 67% of American households have pets, with dogs being the most common pets in the US.
- 72% of Americans see their pets as members of the family.
- US pet adoptions in 2020 have been up by 700 percent from 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Pet ownership statistics by country show that around 57% of people globally own pets.
- Based on pet industry statistics in 2019, pet owners spend the most money on pet food.
- Dog owners in the UK are four times more likely to meet exercise guidelines, according to the dog ownership statistics.
Basic Facts About Pet Ownership
Apart from unconditional love, one of the most important things pets bring into our lives is fun. They fall clumsily around the house, become sassy, and bring us dead things as a present. The following fun facts are our way of honoring the fun these adorable beings bring to our lives.
1. Dog ownership statistics reveal that 62% of men stated that their relationship and attachment to their pet was “almost always” a secure one.
(Metro.co.uk)
This is particularly true as men get older, the study found. Middle-aged men said they rely more on their pets, mostly dogs, for emotional support, which makes canines even more significant in their lives.
2. Women find men who have pets more attractive.
(Thrillist)
35% of women respondents seem to think so, compared to 26% of men who said that owning a pet makes a woman more attractive, a 2015 study on pet ownership stats and dating revealed.
So if you’re single and looking for dates, consider getting a pet, but not a cat, as 27% of women don’t think they can make a relationship work with a cat person.
3. According to dog statistics, pet-nup is an actual thing.
(Family Law Company)
One in 20 of the UK pet owners who are in a relationship is taking precautionary steps to decide who gets to keep their pet if they separate or divorce. Pet ownership stats show an additional third of pet owners considering getting a “pet-nup.”
A quarter said they would take legal action if both partners wanted to keep the pet, while 65% stated they would let their ex make regular visits. 25%, however, would only agree to send updates via social media.
4. 67% of pet owners said they would take their dog with them on holiday in 2018.
(Daily Hive; Globetrender)
42% of pet owners said they would choose their next holiday location based on whether or not they can bring their pets, pet ownership statistics show.
Meanwhile, 49% of respondents in the same 2019 survey would be willing to pay more for pet-friendly accommodation and travel arrangements.
5. American Presidents love pets.
(Presidential Pet Museum)
Although almost all Presidents in US history kept pets in the White House, the most unusual one belonged to John Quincy Adams. This US President had a pet alligator whom he kept in the White House bathroom, leaving guests and visitors terrified.
6. U.S. pet ownership statistics indicate Americans pamper their pets with special holiday gifts.
(NRF; DogTime)
17% of owners bought pet presents on Valentine’s Day 2010, a number that is increasing every year.
Plus, 2015 data shows that $20 billion was spent on Halloween costumes for pets, and as many as 95% of owners planned on giving Christmas gifts to their pets.
7. Owners might be overdoing it when it comes to spoiling their pets.
(USA TODAY; Statista)
Around 18.9% of dogs and 33.8% of cats in the US were obese, pet ownership statistics indicate.
Just for comparison, about 31% of the entire American population was obese that same year.
8. Owning a pet can help the 47% of men in the US who have high blood pressure.
(CDC; CDC)
Other health benefits of having pets include a reduction of cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as increasing socialization and reducing feelings of loneliness.
Pet Ownership Statistics Worldwide
Now that we went through the most important facts, let’s dwell on general statistics every pet owner should know. Owning a pet is an individual experience, but it can’t hurt knowing a bit more about what are the benefits and how many people find themselves in the same situation.
9. Pet ownership statistics by country show that around 57% of people globally own pets.
(Petfood Industry; Modern Cat)
A survey of 27,000 online consumers in 22 countries found out that the region of Latin America has the highest percentage of pet owners.
Taking the top spot is Argentina, with 82% of the respondents saying they have a pet, followed by Mexico (81%) and Brazil (76%). Ranked fourth and fifth are Russia (73%) and the USA (70%).
10. Dog owners in the UK are four times more likely to meet exercise guidelines, according to the dog ownership statistics.
(The Telegraph)
Research has shown that 87.3% of dog owners exercised for 150 minutes a week as opposed to 62.7% of people without a dog, exercise and dog statistics show.
If you live in a coastal area, we recommend taking your dog surfing with you. Just make sure you have safe and suitable surf equipment.
11. Tel Aviv in Israel is the city with most dogs per capita, according to pet ownership statistics by city.
(Nestpick)
There are over 30,000 dogs in Tel Aviv or one canine per 17 human residents. What’s more, with 70 dog parks, or one park per square km, and plenty of sunshine, it’s one of the best cities for dog walking.
12. Asian countries have the lowest percentage of pet owners.
(Modern Cat)
To illustrate, only 31% of respondents in South Korea, 35% of online consumers in Hong Kong, and 37% of Japanese respondents reported owning a furry companion.
US Pet Ownership Statistics
Every stereotypical American family owns a dog. Or that’s what the media and Hollywood make it seem. Did Hollywood lie to us again? Let’s find out more about the people owning pets in America.
13. 67% of American households have pets, with dogs being the most common pets in the US.
(APPA)
This translates to around 84.9 million pet-owning homes. The U.S. pet ownership & demographics sourcebook states that 42.7 million homes have cats, and 11.5 million households own freshwater fish, making these the second and third most popular pets, respectively.
Next come birds – 5.7 million US homes own them as pets, while other small animals (they are a member of 5.4 million households) round off the five most sought-after pets in America.
14. Statistics on pet ownership indicate that most pets come from animal shelters.
(ASPCA)
23% of dogs and 31% of cats are adopted from shelters, while 34% of canines and just 3% of felines are obtained from breeders.
15. US pet adoptions in 2020 have been up by 700 percent from 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
(Fox News)
With most of the population being quarantined, adoption and fostering of pet animals have skyrocketed.
Most notably, ASPCA New York City and Los Angeles foster programs witnessed an almost 200% increase in animals being fostered.
16. Based on pet ownership statistics by state, Vermont takes the crown with an incredible 70.8% of households owning a pet.
(DogTime)
Massachusetts, on the other hand, has the lowest pet ownership rates (50.4%). Arkansas has the most dog owning-homes (47.9%), and Vermont has the highest percentage of feline fanciers (49.5%).
17. 72% of Americans see their pets as members of the family.
(Consulting.us)
And it doesn’t stop there. 96% of owners let their pets sleep in the house, and 32% allow pets to sleep on human beds.
Pet Ownership Statistics and Demographics
Who owns multiple pets? Who’s more likely to give in to puppy eyes? Let’s find out who are the best pet owners out there.
18. Women are more likely to have a pet than men.
(Modern Cat)
Dog statistics show that 34% of female respondents had a canine, and 25% had a feline, compared to 32% of men who had a pup and 22% who had a cat.
Men, however, seem to like fish more than women (14% and 11%, respectively).
19. Millennials only make up 27% of all pet owners.
(PR Newswire)
They don’t have the biggest market share, but members of this generation are vital to the pet industry, especially those targeting owners of other pets, i.e., not cats and dogs.
Millennial pet ownership statistics reveal that this age group accounts for one in three owners of pets like fish, rabbits, hamsters, and birds.
20. Pet ownership rates among seniors grew from 50% to 54% between 2008 and 2018.
(PR Newswire)
The number of pet owners among retired people increased by a whopping 11.6 million. Surprisingly, the number of 70 to 74-year-old pet owners has also grown from 41% in 2008 to 45% ten years later.
21. Pet ownership statistics indicate an increase in rates across several groups has been noted between 2008 and 2018.
(Packaged Facts)
The number of pet owners increased among those who don’t have kids living with them and those with an income of $100,000 or more.
The biggest growth was noted in the percentage of Hispanic pet owners, going up by 44% in the given period.
22. People who have one pet are more likely to get another.
(AVMA)
According to the U.S. pet ownership & demographics sourcebook, households in the US have an average of 1.6 dogs, 1.8 cats, and 2.1 birds, 2017-2018 pet ownership statistics in the United States revealed.
Pet Industry Market Size and Ownership Statistics
With all the pets, the industry securing that they have all things necessary keeps growing every year. New niches are blooming as pet owners seek new ways of spoiling their furry and feathery family members.
23. Pet owners spend an average of $126.19 on their pets each month, a 2018 survey reveals.
(Business Insider)
At $139.80 a month, dogs are one of the most expensive pets to own, dog ownership statistics on monthly expenses disclose. Surprisingly, having a bird will set you back more than owning a cat ($113.89 and $92.98 a month, respectively).
24. Based on pet industry statistics in 2019, pet owners spend the most money on pet food.
(Pet Food Processing)
Pet food accounts for around 39% of total sales, followed by veterinary care with $29.3 billion in expenses and supplies, live animals, and OTC medicine with an expenditure of $19.2 billion.
FAQs
Has pet ownership increased?
(Statista)
Pet ownership rates have been steadily rising over the years. Surveys show that the number of households with pets has increased by 11% since 1988.
How many pets are owned in the world?
(Statista; Steve Dale’s Pet World)
It’s hard to calculate the exact number of pets in the world, but 2018 estimates show that there are 471 million dogs kept as pets across the globe, with cats coming in second (373 million felines are kept as pets).
Other popular pets include fish (both freshwater and saltwater), birds, reptiles, and horses.
How many people own a dog?
(APPA; Statista)
Dogs are the world’s favorite pet, as well as the reigning champion in the US. 63.4 million American homes have at least one dog, while the number of pups has increased by over 20 million between 2000 and 2017.
Are there more cat owners or dog owners?
(Statista)
Dog lovers seem to rule the world except in the EU. Canines might be the most popular pets worldwide, but with around 75 million residents in the region having a feline pet, compared to 65 million pet pups, cats are the number one pet in Europe.
What country has the highest rate of pet ownership?
(Modern Cat; MyAnimals)
Argentina has the highest rate of pets per capita. 66% of respondents in this country said they favored canine companions, more than half of the number of cat owners (32%)
Bottom Line
The number of pets is on the rise, and so is the role they play in owners’ lives. Everywhere across the world, people are starting to recognize the true value of having an animal companion. After all, pets are cute, cuddly, and they will never judge or reject you.
So, has reading these pet ownership stats convinced you that getting an animal companion is one of the best ideas you’ll ever have? If that’s true, don’t delay. Get to the nearest animal shelter and be prepared for an incredible experience that will change your life forever.
Sources:
- APPA
- ASPCA
- AVMA
- Business Insider
- CDC
- CDC
- Consulting.us
- Daily Hive
- DogTime
- DogTime
- Family Law Company
- Fox News
- Globetrender
- Metro.co.uk
- Modern Cat
- MyAnimals
- Nestpick
- NRF
- Packaged Facts
- Pet Food Processing
- Petfood Industry
- PR Newswire
- Presidential Pet Museum
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Statista
- Steve Dale’s Pet World
- The Telegraph
- Thrillist
- USA TODAY
