- By Aditi Priya Singh
- Tue, 12 Aug 2025 02:15 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Top 10 Countries With The Highest Dog Population: In a landmark decision, India’s Supreme Court delivered a mandating the removal of millions of stray dogs from the streets of Delhi and the wider National Capital Region under the leadership of Rekha Gupta, current CM of Delhi. The court’s order requires these animals to be sterilised, vaccinated and moved to designated shelters. It strictly prohibits their return to public spaces. This ruling responds to a severe and growing problem. Dog-bite incidents, especially among children and the elderly, have become distressingly frequent. Authorities have six to eight weeks to complete this large operation. They face legal consequences for any obstruction.
This context makes it important to know which countries have the most dogs, both pets and strays. From the staggering 90 million in the United States to millions more across Brazil, China, Russia and beyond, dog populations vary widely. These figures show the connection between humans and dogs and highlight the need for good animal welfare policies. As India faces its current crisis, examining global trends can show how different societies manage their love for dogs while ensuring public safety and humane treatment.
Why the Supreme Court Ordered the Removal of Stray Dogs In Delhi
The Supreme Court ordered the removal of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR due to a surge in dog-bite cases, nearly 2,000 incidents daily, and rising rabies threats. With an estimated 1 million (10 lakh) stray dogs in Delhi and the NCR region, the court viewed urgent action as essential to protect vulnerable communities. However, after this decision, people are protesting and talking about animal rights and welfare as the government are unable to show enough dog shelters in the capital.
Let’s take a look at this table to know which country has the highest dog population in the world.
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Top 10 Countries With The Highest Dog Population In The World
| Rank | Country | Estimated Pet Dog Population(2023-2024) | Source | Stray Dog Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | United States | 90 million | World Animal Foundation | 70 million dogs & cats are strays |
| 2. | Brazil | 59.7 million | Mordor Intelligence | 2.9 million are in a vulnerable condition |
| 3. | China | 54.3 million | China Daily | 40 million |
| 4. | India | 36.85 million (pets), 52.5 million (total est.) | Various | 52.5 million |
| 5. | Russia | 23 million | GlobalPets | Fewer stray dogs |
| 6. | Mexico | 23 million | NIHgov.in | 16 million |
| 7. | United Kingdom | 12–13.5 million | GlobalPets | Few thousand |
| 8. | Germany | 10.3–10.6 million | GlobalPets | Low stray dog numbers |
| 9. | Argentina | 10 million | NA | NA |
| 10. | Spain | 9.3 million | Statista | NA |
Source: ranking taken from World Population Review, but re-arranged it as per recent data.
- United States: Approximately 70 million dogs and cats are strays in the US.
- Brazil: 2.9 million dogs were found in vulnerable conditions in 2024.
- China: Over 40 million stray dogs in China, accounting for 20% of the global total (2021 report).
- India: 52.5 million stray dogs in India (as per Reuters).
- -Mexico: 16 million stray dogs (as per NIH government report).