The 10 Countries with the Most Dogs Worldwide

#1 USA

The United States of America has the largest population of dogs in the world. There are approximately 75.8 million in the country, both strays and pets. Almost every major city has at least one dog park, grooming parlors, and even doggy daycare centers. Each state has different regulations around dog ownership. There are also regulations specific to breeds in certain states. The government strictly enforces animal welfare laws and those who break them can face criminal charges.

#2 Brazil

In Brazil, there is a population of about 35.7 million dogs. That puts Brazil in the second place for most dogs worldwide. About 50% of Brazilian homes own at least one dog. There are also many stray dogs or canines without homes. In Rio de Janeiro, there are about 150,000 stray dogs (and cats). Unfortunately, animal cruelty is common in Brazil. Many people torture and kill dogs that are on the street. Plus, there are no campaigns for spaying or neutering the canines. Many people in Brazil are choosing to have less children, and instead adopt dogs.

#3 China

The population of dogs in China is 27.4, which puts it in third place for most dogs in the world. The stray dog population is a huge part of this figure. During the 80s, Beijing made it illegal to own a dog. Nowadays, the laws are looser, and people are adopting more dogs. Many canines, especially those living on the streets, are not vaccinated or spayed/neutered. Locals will feed and care for the animals but leave them on the street to sleep. Sometimes, people are cruel to the canines, and torture or kill them.

#4 Russia

There are about 15 million dogs in Russia, both strays and pets. This puts the country in fourth place. The strays come both from people abandoning their pets and from ancient Russian packs of canines. Humans used the furs from the dogs to create caps or do scientific experiments. The dogs, Belka and Strelka, became the first canines to go into space. As food waste increased in Russia so did the population of dogs. In metro areas, dogs ride escalators and metro trains. Humans feed and take care of them.

Pet dogs are also common, with people opting for larger or medium-sized breeds. The animals are usually spayed and neutered and vaccinated, though rabies is still an issue. People usually adopt one dog at a time.

#5 Japan

People often do not have much free time in Japan, so they tend to prefer pets to children. That is why Japan is number five for most dogs worldwide. The pet population actually outnumbers the child population. Most people will end up getting one or two dogs, usually smaller breeds. Japan has a significant stray dog population, mostly because people abandon their pets. Many end up living in shelters and then being euthanized. There are about 12 million dogs in Japan. Japan is also a country in which people pamper their pets and spend a lot of money.

#6 Philippines

Because many people got rabies from stray dogs in the Philippines, the government culled many of the animals. The government was not humane and in fact quite cruel. Animal Welfare organizations worked with the country to establish vaccination and sterilization programs. Because of this, the population sits at around 11.6 million. Many of these are stray dogs. People in the Philippines do not often keep dogs as pets. There is still stigma against the animals and most people avoid them.

#7 India

Many of the dogs in India are strays. Neighborhoods will take care of dogs and give them food, water, and medicine if they can. People usually cannot afford to have their own individual dog. The Indian population is not tolerant of culling or harming the dogs. The government relies on spaying and neutering and vaccinations to ensure the canine populations are healthy. Plus, laws in the Animal Birth Control Rules and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act protect the canines. The population sits around 10.2 million, putting them in seventh place for most dogs worldwide.

#8 Argentina

The Latin American country is slowly gaining a population of dogs. Many large cities allow pets in apartments and dog parks are becoming more common. People tend to go with medium or large breeds of dog. Many people also adopt stray dogs as pets. The government offers incentives for people to own pets and promotes vaccination and spaying/neutering programs. However, many people do not clean the waste of their animals and it’s a common sight on streets around the country.

People often vaccinate and neuter/spay their animals, but strays are a hit or miss. Many people also abandon their animals after a year or two. The dogs end up in shelters and are either adopted again or euthanized.

#9 France

In France there are about 17 dogs per-100 people, which is one of the highest ratios in the world. The dog population is approximately 7.4 million, which puts the country in ninth place for most dogs worldwide. Every town, even small ones, have dog parks, grooming parlors, and doggy daycare buildings. The government does not have a licensing system for dogs, but requires each canine born after January 6th, 1999, to have a tattoo or microchip to identify it.

Unfortunately, many people in France abandon their dogs and they end up going to pounds. In the pound, they are euthanized. Dog theft is common in France, since people will buy expensive prized breeds. Since vaccinations are very strict in the country, rabies is almost completely eradicated.

#10 Romania

The country in tenth place for most dogs worldwide is Romania. The European nation has 4.1 million canines in the area, mostly strays. During the 1980s, people in the country involuntarily migrated to urban areas to comply with the forced industrialization of Romania. The people could not take their dogs and thus the canines had to fend for themselves on the streets. Since many were not spayed or neutered, the population multiplied rapidly. The government began to kill the animals in mass numbers, which animal organizations criticized. From 2008, the government changed tactics to kill only unhealthy animals. Most people in Romania do not think fondly of dogs. They are not common pets.