MADRID — The European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) released its annual report on pet ownership and the pet food industry across the European Union. According to the “Facts & Figures 2025” report, which is based on data from 2023, pet ownership has grown to 139 million European households, equaling 49% of households owning a companion animal. 

Cats and dogs continue to be the most popular pets in Europe, with 26% of pet-owning households owning a cat, totaling 108 million households; and 25% owning dogs, totaling 90 million dog households. Germany has the largest cat population at 15.7 million, followed by France with 14.9 million and the United Kingdom with 11.4 million. The United Kingdom has the largest dog population at 11.7 million, followed by Germany with 10.5 million and Spain with 9.4 million. 

The United Kingdom and Germany are neck-and-neck for the highest total percentage of pet ownership, with the United Kingdom leading at 38.8 million, just 1.1 million more than Germany. However, if aquaria are excluded from the totals, Germany takes the top spot at 35.5 million.

The FEDIAF also revealed that there are 48 million birds, 25 million small mammals, 18 million aquaria and 11 million terraria companion animals in Europe.

With pet ownership continuing to grow across Europe, the FEDIAF found that the pet food industry grew 9% compared to 2021 and is now worth €29.3 billion ($33.7 billion USD). 

Reflecting this growth, the FEDIAF reported the number of pet food companies has increased to more than 400 with an estimated number of more than 500 plants, a massive increase since 2021 when the federation reported 150 pet food companies and 200 facilities in Europe.

Additionally, the report found the majority (58%) of pet food produced in Europe is for dogs, while just 37% is for cats. In terms of value, 47% of the European pet food industry’s value comes from the dog market and 39% comes from the cat market.

In the dog nutrition segment, dry dog food accounts for 61% of all dog food produced in Europe, followed by wet dog food at 30% and treats at 9%. Value-wise, dry dog food accounts for 50% of the total European dog food market, followed by wet dog food at 26% and treats at 24%. 

In the cat nutrition segment, wet cat food accounts for 60% of all cat food produced in Europe, followed by dry cat food at 36% and treats at 3%. Value-wise, wet cat food accounts for 60% of the total European cat food market, followed by dry cat food at 30% and treats at 10%. 

“The latest figures confirm that pet ownership continues to thrive across Europe, with almost 50% of households sharing their lives with at least one dog or cat,” said Rosa Carbonell, president of the FEDIAF. “At the same time, the pet food sector is evolving rapidly to meet the growing demand for high-quality, innovative and tailored nutrition. These trends highlight not only the emotional bond between people and their pets but also the pet sector’s increasing role in the European economy.”

More on FEDIAF’s “Facts & Figures 2025” report. 

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