The pet population in China has increased by a 7.0% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2013 to 2017, from 389 million pets to 755 million. The pet population will continue to show strong growth from 2018 to 2022, with an 8.2% CAGR. The cat population will have the largest growth, with an 18.5% CAGR, while the reptile population is forecasted to have the smallest growth, with a 0.3% CAGR. Due to the population boom, cats will go from having the fourth largest population in 2017 to the second largest in 2022.
The pet population boom is attributed to various factors. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, pet owners were often only elite middle-class. However, in recent years, the Chinese population has enjoyed a higher standard of living, with more disposable income to spend on pets. For example, although China’s one child policy no longer exists, many couples fear the financial burden a child could have on their lives. Also, many younger Chinese people are going out less. According to the 2017 White Book of China’s Pet Industry, the pet trend among younger and older individuals is unique to China, as pet owners in other countries are primarily older. As the younger generation socialize less, and the older generation face their children moving out when they grow up, there is a desire from both generations for alternative companionship, which result in a pet adoption boom.
Pet population in China: 2013-2017
(historical, in thousands)
| Category | 2013 | 2017 | CAGR* % 2013-2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 389,228.2 | 509,702.3 | 7.0 |
| Fish population | 168,227.0 | 184,303.0 | 2.3 |
| Dog population | 55,447.5 | 84,595.0 | 11.1 |
| Bird population | 74,131.4 | 73,457.4 | −0.2 |
| Cat population | 21,906.8 | 68,525.9 | 33.0 |
| Reptile population | 4,901.0 | 4,940.0 | 0.2 |
| Small mammal population | 2,133.0 | 2,173.0 | 0.5 |
Pet population in China: 2018-2022
(forecast, in thousands)
| Category | 2018 | 2022 | CAGR* % 2018-2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 551,023.2 | 755,349.3 | 8.2 |
| Fish population | 188,520.0 | 220,548.6 | 4.0 |
| Dog population | 93,646.7 | 136,109.2 | 9.8 |
| Bird population | 73,971.6 | 76,822.6 | 0.9 |
| Cat population | 86,959.4 | 171,186.4 | 18.5 |
| Reptile population | 4,949.0 | 5,002.8 | 0.3 |
| Small mammal population | 2,190.4 | 2,283.8 | 1.0 |
Pet ownership in China
# households (in thousands) & % of households
| Category | 2013 | 2017 | CAGR* % 2013-2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog | 23,965.7 (5.5%) | 25,906.7 (5.7%) | 2.0 |
| Cat | 6,364.5 (1.5%) | 8,028.7 (1.7%) | 6.0 |
Source: Euromonitor International, 2018
*CAGR: Compound annual growth rate
