27 Intriguing Pet Industry Statistics to Know in 2023

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Ljubica Cvetkovska
November 5, 2020

According to pet industry statistics, pet humanization is one of the driving forces behind the explosive growth in this market.

Owners consider pets to be family members, and retailers have been quick to cash in on pet owners’ desire to provide the best on the market for their furry friends.

But how much is the pet industry worth? And what else drives demands and trends in this thriving market? 

Read on to discover the answers.

Top 10 Pet Care Industry Statistics

General Pet Industry Statistics

68% of pet owners agree that pets are people too.

This might just be random trivia to most people, but to pet care companies, this is essential information.

Let’s see how much money the industry cashes in on this love.

1. 67% of US households own a pet.

(III)

According to the American Pet Products Association, dogs are the most numerous pets in the US, with 63.4 million American households owning a dog. 

Cats are the second most popular pets (42.7 million), followed by freshwater fish (11.5 million) and birds (5.7 million).

2. The US pet industry in 2019 was valued at $95.7 billion.

(APPA)

The US is the largest pet market in the world. Up from $90.5 billion in 2018, it is projected to get to an astonishing $99 billion in 2020.

3. With $36.9 billion generated by the pet food industry, sales of pet food and treats made up the largest share of pet expenditure in the US.

(APPA)

Next in line in pet spending are veterinary care and sale of products ($29.3 billion), followed by supplies, medicine, and live pets ($19.2 billion). 

Other services such as boarding, grooming, insurance, pet sitting and walking, cost pet owners $10.3 billion last year.

4. The global pet industry market size was estimated at $125 billion in 2018.

(PetfoodIndustry.com)

Pet food sales make up the largest share of the pet care market at 73%, or $91.1 billion worldwide.

5. 32% of all pet care sales were made at pet specialty stores.

(Statista, PR Newswire)

36% of all pet care products were purchased from mass/dollar/club stores, the most preferred distribution channel. 

Only 13% of pet care products were bought online, making e-commerce the smallest purchase channel in terms of pet care sales in the US. 

However, the latest projections estimate that the online share of sales of pet products will go up to 24% in 2020 and as high as 26.5% by 2024.

6. The pet products industry is considered to be recession-proof…

(SmartAsset)

In 2007, spending on pets equaled 0.9% of total consumer spending, increasing to 1.1% in 2008/2009, then dropping again to 1% in 2010 and 2011. 

This shows almost no change during one of the worst economic crises that left many Americans without a job.

7. … but has taken a hit from the coronavirus crisis, the latest pet industry news indicates.

(PR Newswire, APPA)

Forecasts now show that sales of pet products and services went down by 17% in 2020.

So instead of the projected pre-crisis pet industry growth to $99 billion, revised estimates show pet sales amounting to $78.5 billion in 2020.

Pet Food Industry Statistics

Pet owners want only the best for their fur babies and the following statistics prove it.

8. The global pet food market reached $87.08 billion in 2018.

(Mordor Intelligence)

The pet food market, which makes up the largest share of the pet industry, is expected to grow at a 5.4% rate from 2016 to 2025. 

North America is the largest segment, accounting for 39.2% of the industry, while Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing market.

9. Dog food is the biggest segment of the global pet food market.

(PetfoodIndustry.com)

Dog food may be the biggest seller, but cat food shows faster growth in this market.

Volume sales of dog food increased by 1.5% from 2013 to 2018, while cat food volume sales rose by over 2% CAGR during the same period.

10. According to the pet food industry analysis, dry kibble is the best-selling product.

(PetfoodIndustry.com)

Dry dog food recorded sales of $35 billion in 2018, growing by around 5% since 2013. 

The dry cat food segment grew by 5.5%, while value sales of wet pet food for both cats and dogs increased by 4 to 5% CAGR.

11. Sales of pet treats were projected to reach $6.7 billion in 2019.

(Today’s Veterinary Business)

Pet treats and chews have come a long way since the industry started, not just in quality and variety, but also in popularity. 

45% of dog owners and 36% of cat owners bought treats for pets in the last 30 days, pet industry statistics and surveys from 2018 reveal.

Pet Industry Sectors

Pet industry is divided into numerous sectors, with food, health, vet services, and wellness being the biggest ones. Here are some stats that may surprise you.

12. Sales of vet services reached $28.5 billion in 2018.

(Pet Product News)

Driven by increasing emphasis on pet health and wellness, veterinary service sales were expected to increase by 5.7% in 2019 and amount to an incredible $30 billion.

13. The global pet supplements market was valued at $637.6 million in 2019.

(Grand View Research)

At 43.34%, North America has the largest share of the pet supplement market, but Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region with a CAGR of 7.9% from 2020 to 2027. 

The pet supplements market is expected to grow at a rate of 6.4%, with cat supplements projected to expand at the highest rate, at 7.4% over the forecast period.

14. The pet grooming and boarding industry has almost doubled in the past ten years.

(IBISWorld)

Revenue in this industry has grown at a rate of 4.3% to $9.2 billion from 2015 to 2020.

According to pet boarding statistics, demand for services provided by this industry is at an all-time high as a result of the increasing number of pet owners and their focus on high-value services for their animal companions.

15. The pet insurance industry is growing too.

(III)

There were 2.43 million pets insured in 2018 in the US and Canada, a 17% increase from 2017. 

The total gross written premiums in the North America region reached $1.42 billion in 2018. This is up from $1.15 billion in 2017.

16. The global pet accessories market is projected to grow by $14.7 billion.

(PR Newswire)

Pet toys are one of the segments of this market that is expected to record the highest growth. With a rate of 7.1% increase, this amounts to more than $17.9 billion by 2025.

Pet Industry Market and Companies

Even though the pet market is huge and there are thousands of brands and retailers, a couple of companies dominate the market.

17. PetSmart and Petco Animal Supplies are the two biggest players in the pet industry.

(Common Thread Collective)

The market of the pet industry is dominated by these companies that made up more than 48% of total pet industry revenue last year.

18. There are 13,408 pet stores in the US.

(IBISWorld, Statista)

With a total of 1,660 stores, PetSmart is the largest pet specialty retail chain in North America as of February 2020. Petco is a close second with 1,472 stores across the region.

19. Amazon pet food sales amounted to around $1 billion in 2018 alone.

(PetfoodIndustry.com, PR Newswire)

A 2019 report estimates that Amazon and Chewy will take up 78% of the online pet service and products industry by 2023.

20. Blue Buffalo is the biggest-selling pet food brand on Amazon.

(PetfoodIndustry.com)

Taking the top with 11% of total pet food sales, Blue Buffalo is followed by Purina (9%).

Hill’s (8%), Wellness and Greenies follow with 6% and 5%, respectively.

Pet Industry Statistics and Trends

Smart homes of the future are equipped with tons of gadgets that make our lives easier, including smart pet toys. But the latest trends in pet industry focus on sustainability, as well. Read on.

21. Demand for organic pet food was one of the biggest pet food trends in 2020.

(Alphia, PR Newswire, Packaged Facts)

The global organic pet food industry was estimated to increase at a CAGR of 9.08% by 2021. It is primarily driven by health-conscious pet owners.

69% of millennial pet owners said they are more likely to consider natural pet food rather than mass-produced foods.

22. Technology is making its way into the pet industry, too.

(Bold Business)

Starting from pet wearable trackers that monitor your pet’s health and whereabouts, to smart pet toys that entertain pets who are home alone and 3D-printing prosthetics to make pets’ lives easier.

There are almost no sectors of the pet industry that tech hasn’t impacted.

23. Focus on sustainability is another of the projected pet industry trends for 2022.

(PetfoodIndustry.com)

Now that millennials make up the largest share of pet owners, sustainability is a must for pet companies. 

This is not just when it comes to pet food, but in all segments of the industry, starting from sustainable packaging to eco-friendly ingredients.

24. CBD products for pets are estimated to represent 3%–5% of all hemp CBD sales in the US by 2025.

(PR Newswire)

24% of pet owners use CBD products for themselves, their four-legged companions, or both, so we can safely say this is one of the pet industry trends of 2019 that’s here to stay.

On top of that, pet products have recorded a combined $9.4 million in sales in California, Colorado, Nevada, and Washington (where recreational use of cannabis is legal) from Q1 2018 to Q3 2019.

Consumer Behavior

More and more people nowadays consider their pets to be a part of their family. This influences their shopping habits and helps the industry grow even more.

25. Millennials account for the largest share of pet owners.

(AVMA, PR Newswire)

Gen Y makes up 35% of pet owners in the US compared to 32% of boomers. 

Just like with their shopping habits, when it comes to pets, millennials are in the market for GMO-free, holistic, and natural pet products from transparent and sustainable brands.  

26. 90% of the 1,200 pet owners surveyed said that they see pets as family members, statistics on pet ownership disclose.

(Forbes)

82% of respondents in a survey carried out by e-commerce company Zulily said that they view pet adoption as preparation for parenthood.

On the other hand, 42% of pet owners say that they would rather snuggle with their pet than with a romantic partner if given the choice.

27. 72% of owners think that their pet’s food should be the same quality as their own.

(New York Post)

41% of pet owners even prepared meals for their animal companions from scratch.

FAQ

What is the pet industry?

The pet industry is made of products and services that contribute to keeping our animal companions happy, healthy, and alive. 

Covering everything and anything from food and insurance to toys and medicine, pet care products and services not only improve pets’ wellbeing but bring joy to owners’ lives as well.

How much will the pet care industry be worth in 2025?

The global pet industry is expected to reach a whopping $202.6 billion by 2025.

What will be the growth rate of bird care?

The bird care segment of the market is expected to grow at 6.3% from 2019 to 2025.

What are the growth estimations of the Chinese market for pet care in the near future?

The Chinese pet market is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world and third in terms of pet ownership. 

The estimated growth of the pet care market in China is from 6 to 7% from 2020 to 2027.

How much do we spend on pets each year?

Pet spending is increasing with each passing year. In 2016, pet owners spent $66.75 billion, only to pay $69.51 billion the following year and then a record-breaking $72.56 billion in 2018.

To Sum Up

More and more pet owners today look for the same things when shopping for their furry friends as they do when shopping for themselves. 

Knowing this, it’s no surprise that pet industry statistics paint a picture of a booming market that is only expected to grow even bigger in the future.

Sources

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Ljubica is a writer and researcher who enjoys spending most of her time between the pages of her favorite books or immersed in her writing. With a background in English literature, she prides herself on delivering content that is well-researched and backed up by relevant data. When she’s not working, she’s known to binge-watch a TV show or two or hit the gym, which doesn’t happen that often.

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