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Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
Canines are man’s best friend, and for good reason! They’re adorable, fun, and funny, so it’s no wonder many people enjoy having them around. But how many dogs are there in the world? As it turns out, quite a lot!
Here’s a look at the number of canines in the world (living as pets or otherwise), how many pups have homes in the United States, how many dogs can be found in shelters in the U.S., and how much the rest of the world loves dogs! Keep reading to learn more about how many adorable dogs there are!
The 20 Statistics on How Many Dogs There Are
- It’s estimated there are around 900 million canines in the world.
- Between 75%–85% of that population consists of free-range dogs.
- Over 340 canine breeds exist in the world.
- There are 35 wild canine species recognized worldwide.
- About 471 million dogs in the world live as pets.
- 1 million U.S. households have at least one canine.
- Only 23.7% of households in New Hampshire own dogs, making it the state with the lowest dog ownership rate.
- 42% of U.S. dog parents acquired their pet from a store.
- 23% of U.S. dog parents acquired their pet from a breeder.
- The American Kennel Club (AKC) currently recognizes 200 canine breeds.
- 3.1 million canines enter shelters in the U.S. each year.
- 38% of U.S. dog owners acquire their pets via shelter or rescue.
- Each year, about 390,000 dogs in U.S. shelters are euthanized.
- In 2023, in New York City, 2% more canines were euthanized than the year prior.
- Purebred dogs make up as many as 25% of shelter dogs.
- About 32% of the world’s population owns a dog.
- China’s dog population is about 54.29 million.
- India has roughly 32 million pet dogs.
- 33% of households in Russia own dogs.
- Spain has approximately 9.3 million canines.
Number of Dogs in the World
1. It’s estimated there are around 900 million canines in the world.
(World Atlas)
Determining the exact number of canines in the world is a near impossibility, especially because of all the free-range dogs (stray, feral, wild, etc.) out there. However, it’s estimated that there are about 900 million dogs currently roaming the world. Considering the estimate in 2012 was 525 million, the dog population has undoubtedly expanded!
2. Between 75%–85% of that population consists of free-range dogs.
(World Atlas)
While many dogs live comfortably as pets, most of the dog population worldwide is free-range. About 200 million of these pups are strays, which is why Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) programs are so vital in helping control the free-range dog population. But many of these are also wild canines, like jackals.
3. Over 340 canine breeds exist in the world.
(AKC)
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), over 340 canine breeds exist in the world. They define a dog breed as one that “always breeds true,” meaning that if you breed one purebred of a specific breed with another purebred of the same breed, the resulting puppies would be instantly identifiable as that particular breed.
4. There are 35 wild canine species recognized worldwide.
(Morris Animal Foundation)
Wild canines have been around for millions of years, much longer than domesticated canines, which only emerged between 12,500 and 15,000 years ago. However, only 35 wild canine species are currently recognized worldwide despite their long existence. These include jackals, wolves, and foxes, and many of these species are endangered due to the loss of their natural habitats and human conflicts.
5. About 471 million dogs in the world live as pets.
(Statista)
Dogs are the number one pet worldwide, with about 471 million living as pets! Felines are the second favorite animal, with 350–370 million living as pets.
Number of Dogs in the United States
6. 1 million U.S. households have at least one canine.
(APPA)
Dogs as pets win out in the United States, with 65.1 million households having at least one canine in the home. In contrast, 46.5 million households own cats, followed by 11.1 households owning freshwater fish. The least-owned pets are saltwater fish and horses, each found only in 2.2 million U.S. households.
7. Only 23.7% of households in New Hampshire own dogs, making it the state with the lowest dog ownership rate.
(World Population Review)
While many in the U.S. are dog owners, New Hampshire has the fewest dog parents. In contrast, Idaho has the highest number of dog owners, with 58.3% of households owning canines, with the next highest number of dog owners (51.9%) living in Montana and West Virginia (51.6%).
8. 42% of U.S. dog parents acquired their pet from a store.
(AVMA)
It seems a whole lot of dog owners in America get their pets from stores. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association 2022 Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, 42% of dog owners (and 43% of cat owners) acquired their pets through a store. However, some of these pet stores may have been working in conjunction with shelters or rescues.
9. 23% of U.S. dog parents acquired their pet from a breeder.
(AVMA)
Breeders were also popular with dog owners, much more so than cat owners. While 23% of dog parents in the U.S. got their pet from a breeder, only 7% of cat parents received their feline from a breeder.
10. The American Kennel Club (AKC) currently recognizes 200 canine breeds.
(AKC)
Although there are over 340 known canine breeds in the world, the AKC only recognizes 200 of these. One type of breed the AKC does not recognize is the hybrid or designer breed (like Goldendoodles). Though that may not be all the dog breeds out there, an awful lot of breeds are recognized!
Number of Dogs in Shelters in the U.S.
11. 3.1 million canines enter shelters in the U.S. each year.
(ASPCA)
A large number of canines enter shelters in the United States each year. However, the number of cats entering shelters beats canines out by just a hair, as 3.2 million felines end up in shelters every year. As many dogs and cats as that are winding up in shelters in America, the number has declined; in 2011, a total of 7.2 million animals entered shelters annually.
12. 38% of U.S. dog owners acquire their pets via shelter or rescue.
(AVMA)
While many are getting their dogs from stores and breeders, plenty of people are still acquiring canines through shelters and rescues. 38% of dog parents in the U.S. have adopted from a shelter or rescue, whether that was specifically through the shelter or through a pet store working with a shelter. Unfortunately, though, that means there are still plenty of dogs being left in shelters.
13. Each year, about 390,000 dogs in U.S. shelters are euthanized.
(ASPCA)
Of the 3.1 million dogs who enter shelters, around 390,000 are euthanized each year. That’s an unfortunate number of canines whose lives are shortened every year; this number could go down significantly with the implementation of more TNR programs. However, that number has already gone down quite a lot due to the rise in pet adoption; currently, around 920,000 dogs and cats are euthanized each year, but in 2011, that number was 2.6 million.
14. In 2023, in New York City, 2% more canines were euthanized than the year prior.
(CBS News)
Though the number of animals in shelters who are euthanized each year has seen a downward trend, New York City shelters euthanized 2% more canines in 2023 than in the previous year. Part of the reason so many dogs enter shelters and end up languishing is that people are no longer able to afford to house or feed their pets. However, there are still more animals leaving shelters via live outcomes than non-live outcomes.
15. Purebred dogs make up as many as 25% of shelter dogs.
(Humane Society)
One reason people don’t adopt from shelters is because they want a purebred dog. However, the Humane Society has estimated that purebreds make up as many as 25% of all dogs in shelters. Of course, this cannot be confirmed without genetic testing, but if you’re seeking a purebred, they can be found in shelters.
Number of Dogs Outside the U.S.
16. About 33% of the world’s population owns a dog.
(GFK)
About 1/3 of the world owns at least one dog, with 33% of households having dogs in their homes. Compare that to the 23% of the world who own felines, 12% who own fish, or 6% who own birds, all of which are far fewer than dog owners. A dog is indeed man’s best friend!
17. China’s dog population is about 54.29 million.
(World Population Review)
With 54.29 million pet dogs in the country, China has the highest number of pet dogs in all of Asia. Even with many major cities in the country having a one-dog-per-house policy, canine ownership in China manages to outrank all other Asian countries. Some of the most popular pups in this country include the Tibetan Mastiff, Pekingese, and Shar Pei.
18. India has roughly 32 million pet dogs.
(World Atlas)
India is second in dog ownership in Asia, with a population of around 32 million pet canines. The country also has a sizable stray dog population, with at least 20 million (though the number may be higher) free-range canines roaming the country.
19. 32% of households in Russia own dogs.
(World Population Review)
Russia has 17.55 million dogs, and 32% of households own at least one canine. Most dog breeds selected as pets are chosen for their ability to withstand cold weather and for protection. However, Russians prefer felines, with 59% of Russian households owning cats.
20. Spain has approximately 9.31 million canines.
(Statista)
Since 2021, Spain has had a dog population of around 9.31 million. This population grew quite a bit from 2020, when it was only about 6.73 million. The top breed in Spain is the Spanish Mastiff, which is about as popular as Labradors are in America!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Number of Dogs
People often have many questions about the number of dogs there are, so here are a few of the more frequently asked ones.
Are there any countries that don’t have free-range dogs?
Since free-range dogs include wild dogs, no country is entirely without them. However, the Netherlands has no stray dogs! This wasn’t always the case, as there used to be many stray dogs on the streets. The country decided to fix the issue, though.
The government had every stray dog neutered or spayed, then had them receive veterinary treatment when needed. The result was that owning a dog suddenly became much less of a financial burden, which resulted in almost the entire country adopting a stray. Considering this country has around 1.95 million dogs, that’s pretty impressive! (Dutch Review)
How many canines work as service dogs in the U.S.?
Dogs aren’t only man’s best friend; they’re also hard workers. That’s why an estimated 500,000 canines are working as service dogs in the United States. These pups are trained to help people with disabilities live their daily lives and undergo a lot of training to hold this job. (Atlas)
Are dogs found more often in urban or rural areas of the U.S.?
While we do not have exact numbers on the number of dogs living in rural areas versus urban areas, we do know that 71% of adults living in rural areas own pets. Those living in rural areas are also more likely to have multiple pets (47% versus 26% of those in urban areas). This makes sense, considering it can be much more challenging to home and care for pets (especially dogs) in more urban areas of the country. So, it is likely more canines are living in the rural parts of the country. (MarketWatch)
Conclusion
It seems dogs rank number one in the hearts of people everywhere! There is a plethora of canines worldwide, and a huge number of the world’s population owns at least one dog. Currently, there are around 900 million canines in the world, including pets and free-range dogs, but that number is sure to continue growing (especially if stray dog populations aren’t controlled).
Related Reads:
- What Dog Breeds Are Banned in Australia? Outlawed Canines
- How Many Homeless Cats & Dogs Live in the US? Statistics Update
Featured Image Credit: Joy Brown, Shutterstock
