How Many Dogs Are In The World? Global Dog Population

Have you ever wondered how many dogs are in the world?

Well, at best guess there are an estimated 700 million to 1.2 billion dogs in the world! The number includes the total world dog population — both dogs living in households and strays.

How Many Dogs Are There? 🐶

It is believed there are around 471 million pet dogs in households around the world.

This number is just a rough estimate though, as it’s difficult to truly know how many dogs are in the world. It seems counting every dog in the world is pretty much impossible.

What we do know is that there are a lot of dog lovers out there!

Group of dogs walking on leash with three professional dog walkers

Are there more dogs or humans?

The short answer: more humans.

As noted above, at the highest estimate, the global dog population is around 1.2 billion — and rising. The global human population is currently around 8 billion.

Are there more cats or dogs?

There is no definitive answer to the question of whether there are more cats or dogs in the world. Depending on various factors – such as how one defines “dog” or “cat” – the answer could be very different.

For example, the United States Department of Agriculture defines a “dog” as any member of the family Canidae, which includes not just domestic dogs but also wild species such as wolves, coyotes, and foxes.

Based on this definition, there are an estimated 1.4 million dogs in the United States alone.

On the other hand, the International Cat Association defines a “cat” as any member of the Felidae family, which includes both domestic and wild cats. This definition would put the number of cats in the world at around 600 million.

Of course, these are just rough estimates and the actual number of cats and dogs in the world is likely to be somewhere in between these two extremes. Nevertheless, it is clear that there are far more cats than dogs in the world, regardless of how you define them.

Dog Ownership Statistics

In the U.S., approximately 48 million American households own a dog. That adds up to just 38.4% of American households owning a dog.

FUN FACT: Idaho holds the highest number of dog owners at 58.3%.

More ownership statistics include:

Nearly 40% of households in the United States own at least 1 pet dog
40% of the dogs in shelters are purebreds
44% of dog owners adopted their precious pups from a rescue or shelter
Dog ownership increased by nearly 11% during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

Statistics from the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society, and PetFoodIndustry.com.

Why do people have dogs as pets?

There are a number of reasons why dogs are such popular pets.

For some people, it’s the companionship that a dog can provide. Dogs can offer us a sense of companionship and love that we may not get from other people in our lives. They’re always happy to see us and they’re always there for us, no matter what.

Some people also have dogs as pets because they provide a sense of security. Dogs can be great protectors and can help to deter burglars and intruders. They can also help to calm us down when we’re feeling stressed or anxious.

For other people, it’s the level of activity that a dog can provide. Dogs need to be walked, and this can be a great way for people to get some exercise. Walking a dog can also be a great way to meet new people, as you’re often stopped and talked to by other dog walkers.

Whatever the reason, it’s clear that dogs make great pets. They offer us companionship, love, and security, and can also help us to stay active.