Countries With the Highest Dog Populations Worldwide
Furry friends have shaped human life as companions, protectors, or community wanderers for centuries. Some places see them as family, others as a challenge to public health. With spaying, vaccination, and responsible care, they thrive almost anywhere. Here’s a look at the nations where dog populations are the largest and most influential worldwide.
France: Approximately 7.5 Million
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France stands out for allowing pets in restaurants, parks, and even public transport, though abandonment is a troubling issue. Each town offers services like grooming and daycare, while strict vaccination laws nearly wiped out rabies. Dogs born after 1999 must be tattooed or microchipped, ensuring easier identification in a country known for dog-friendly lifestyles.
Canada: Approximately 7.9 Million
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Quebec leads in the widespread dog ownership in Canada. Over half of households keep pets, and many choose dogs thanks to long historical ties with Indigenous traditions. Responsible ownership is common, stray populations are smaller than in other countries, and regulations balance public safety with pet welfare, sustaining strong cultural acceptance nationwide.
Italy: Approximately 8.7 Million
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Italy blends a strong affection for dogs with lenient policies on strays, leaving hundreds of thousands roaming free. Italian law restricts euthanasia, favoring adoption and sheltering programs instead. Over half of pet owners keep at least one dog, and the cultural empathy toward strays ensures they’re often fed, even if not formally adopted.
Spain: Approximately 9.3 Million
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Spain’s pet dog population has surged in recent years, fueled by more people living alone. Despite high ownership, abandonment is a serious problem, and shelters see large numbers of strays. Dogs are deeply rooted in Spanish culture, and the government policies and campaigns push responsible ownership to manage both household pets and free-roaming populations.
Argentina: Approximately 10 Million
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Argentina’s growing dog population thrives in both apartments and public parks, where medium and large breeds are popular. Government programs encourage vaccination and sterilization, but abandoned pets are still common, filling shelters. Around 85 percent of pet owners have dogs, highlighting their central role in family life despite persistent challenges like waste management on city streets.
India: Approximately 10.2 Million
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Dogs thrive in India’s bustling neighborhoods, where locals feed and care for community strays, often called Indian pariahs. Instead of culling, government programs focus on vaccination and sterilization, as national laws protect animals from cruelty and birth control rules. These hardy dogs adapt well to limited resources and hold a unique, protected place in society.
Germany: Approximately 10.3 Million
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Pets fit seamlessly into daily Germans’ lives, supported by a culture that values them as companions and workers. Ownership rules are relaxed compared to other nations, and most households ensure pets are spayed, vaccinated, and insured. A strong pet food industry and positive attitudes toward animals keep Germany among Europe’s top dog-loving countries.
United Kingdom: Approximately 12 Million
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About a quarter of UK households welcome dogs, reflecting a culture that historically embraces them as companions and working animals. Strict regulations, mandatory microchipping, and local authority oversight help keep stray populations relatively low. Public affection for pets runs deep, strengthened by traditions, royal influence, and widespread adoption programs that prioritize responsible ownership.
Russia: Approximately 17.6 Million
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The dog scene in Russia mixes metro-riding strays with loyal household pets. Stray packs trace back to older street populations and abandoned animals, many now known for navigating subways. Rabies persists, but most owned dogs are vaccinated and sterilized. Popular breeds include German Shepherds and Siberian Laikas, as locals often adopt one dog at a time.
Japan: Approximately 20 Million
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In Japan’s busy cities, smaller breeds thrive as people balance long work hours with pet ownership. Dogs over 90 days old must be licensed, vaccinated, and tagged, though abandonment still swells shelter populations. With pets now outnumbering children under 15, they are increasingly treated as family, often pampered with luxury services and accessories.
Mexico: Approximately 23 Million
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Around 70 percent of households own pets, and most choose dogs, but abandonment and limited spay-neuter programs fuel a stray crisis. Dogs roam the streets of Mexico City in staggering numbers. Ancient cultural ties dating back to the Aztecs still shape today’s relationship with these animals.
Philippines: Approximately 23.3 Million
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Dogs dominate Filipino households, with about two-thirds keeping at least one. Shih Tzus top the popularity charts, though many are mixed breeds, eating table scraps. Animal welfare groups like PAWS push for better care and responsible ownership. Stray management is challenging, but enthusiasm for pets keeps the country leading Asia in dog ownership.
China: Approximately 54 Million
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China’s dog population has skyrocketed in recent decades, with relaxed laws replacing past restrictions like Beijing’s 1980s ban on ownership. Even though many families now adopt small breeds as companions, millions of strays still roam cities. Vaccination and neutering rates remain low, and the dog meat trade is shrinking. However, cruelty against street animals is common.
Brazil: Approximately 55 Million
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Half of Brazilian households include at least one dog, and many families treat pets as new children in place of larger families. The country’s growing middle class fuels spending on food, clinics, and grooming. Sadly, stray populations remain high, especially in Rio, where cruelty and lack of neutering campaigns worsen the situation for street dogs.
USA: Approximately 90 Million
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Walk through any American city and you’ll notice dogs everywhere, mostly jogging with owners, lounging in parks, or heading to grooming salons. The U.S. leads the world in dog numbers, fueled by strong animal welfare laws, thriving pet services, and households treating pets like family. Owning one is pricey, but millions happily pay.