Dog population in the UK 2026| ��ƽ��

Number of pet dogs in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2026 (in millions)*

Characteristic	Number of dogs in millions
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-

Download

Source

Show detailed source information?

Already a member?

Sources

Release date

2026

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

2011 to 2026

Number of respondents

8,901 respondents

Age group

18 years and older

Method of interview

Online survey

Supplementary notes

*Figures are based on estimates. The survey changed from face-to-face to online in 2021, which means 2021 and 2022 data cannot be compared with earlier years but the percentage of households owning pets can be compared between 2022 and 2021 with some caution required as the sample size changed from 5,093 in 2021 to 8,983 in 2022.
Sample sizes vary as follows: n (2019/20) = 8,000; n (2018/19) = 8,000; n (2017/18) = 8,000; n (2016/17) = 8,000; n (2015/16) = 8000; n (2014/15) = 8353; n (2013/14) = 6,192; n (2012/13) = 4,223; n (2011/12) = 4,205; n (2010/11) = 4,156.

Citation formats

The population of dogs kept as pets in the United Kingdom (UK) was estimated at **** million in 2026, which is an increase of around *** million from 2024.

Dog ownership in the UK

As the population of dogs grew in the United Kingdom over the last decade, so did the share of dog-owning households in the UK. Between 2019/20 and 2021/22, the share of UK households owning a pet dog jumped from ** percent to around ** percent. This sudden increase could be attributed to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting government-imposed quarantines that forced people to stay at home.
UK households own pet dogs from various breeds. However, Labrador Retrievers were by far the most popular dog breed in the UK, with around * registrations in 2020. French Bulldogs were also equally popular with * registrations in that year.

How much does it cost to own a dog in the UK?

Consumer spending on pets and related products went up significantly in the United Kingdom between 2005 and 2020, with expenditure levels peaking at **** billion British pounds in 2020. The annual cost of keeping a pet dog in the UK amounted to an estimated GBP as of 2022. Broken down by expense type, boarding for two weeks cost approximately *** GBP per year and is the costliest part of owning a pet dog, followed by pet insurance estimated at around *** GBP annually.