In 2023, dog population in Italy amounted to approximately 14 million, an increase of around two percent compared to the previous year. A possible reason behind the increase in pet ownership in the last three years is the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, when people were confined to their homes and perhaps longing for the comfort and companionship provided by a pet.
Favorite pet animals
Even though bird and cat populations were larger than dogs’ population in Italy, according to a survey conducted in 2019, dogs were Italians’ favorite pet friends. Over 60 percent of Italians picked dogs as their preferred pet animal, while only about 39 percent indicated cats as their preference.
Pet food and pet care
The love of Italians for their pet friends is reflected in the amount of money they spend on them: in 2022, over 2.7 billion euros was spent on dog and cat food products in Italy. The large increase in pet ownership in Italy in 2022 is likely directly correlated to the displayed increase in cat and dog food product sales.
Number of dogs in Italy from 2016 to 2023
(in 1,000s)
*Number of dogs that have been chipper and/or tattooed and then registered as of July 6, 2023.
Data prior to 2023 from earlier publications of the source
Data for 2021 not available
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Legambiente. (June 16, 2023). Number of dogs in Italy from 2016 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/515521/dog-population-europe-italy/
Legambiente. "Number of dogs in Italy from 2016 to 2023 (in 1,000s)." Chart. June 16, 2023. Statista. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/515521/dog-population-europe-italy/
Legambiente. (2023). Number of dogs in Italy from 2016 to 2023 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 10, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/515521/dog-population-europe-italy/
Legambiente. "Number of Dogs in Italy from 2016 to 2023 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 16 Jun 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/515521/dog-population-europe-italy/
Legambiente, Number of dogs in Italy from 2016 to 2023 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/515521/dog-population-europe-italy/ (last visited October 10, 2024)
Number of dogs in Italy from 2016 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Legambiente, June 16, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/515521/dog-population-europe-italy/