36.5 million#
pets in the UK
UK Pet Food estimates that the UK had 36.5 million non-aquatic pets in 2026.
A population estimate, not a count of annual deaths or cremations.
Research and data hub · UK pet aftercare
Pet aftercare statistics you can trace to the source.
A practical reference for journalists and researchers: clear figures on pet ownership, cremation choices and pet loss, each linked to the organisation that published it.
Sources reviewed 12 October 2026
At a glance
36.5mUK pets estimated by UK Pet Food, 2026
67%chose cremation in the CMA pet owner survey
30,689Blue Cross support requests in 2024
01 / UK pet population
How many pets live in the UK?
These are estimates of pets living in households. They describe the size of the pet population, not annual demand for cremation or burial.
62%#
of UK households own a pet
UK Pet Food estimates that 62% of UK households owned a pet in 2026.
Household ownership rate in the same 2026 survey.
Two surveys, two population baselines
Use each figure with its survey name and year. The studies have different methods and should not be combined into one total.
| Species | UK Pet Food, 2026 | PDSA, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | 15.5 million | 11.1 million |
| Cats | 13 million | 10.5 million |
| Rabbits | 500,000 | 700,000 |
Original data: UK Pet Food, Pet Population Survey (2026) and PDSA, PAW Mini Report (2025).
02 / Aftercare choices
What happens after a pet dies?
The CMA survey offers UK evidence on cremation choice and how people select a provider. Its percentages describe survey respondents, not every pet death.
67%#
chose cremation
The CMA found that 67% of surveyed UK owners whose pet had died in the previous two years chose cremation.
Based on the CMA pet owner survey, not all UK pet deaths.
89%#
did not compare crematoria
In a CMA pet owner survey, 89% of people who purchased a cremation did not compare different providers.
The CMA also reported that 9% said they did compare providers.
The same CMA final report says 27% of surveyed owners whose pet had died in the previous two years buried their pet at home. Read the CMA report.
03 / Bereavement
Pet loss reaches beyond the practical decisions.
Support service activity and survey responses show two different sides of grief. Neither figure is a count of UK pet deaths.
30,689#
requests for pet loss support
Blue Cross responded to 30,689 requests for Pet Loss Support during 2024.
Requests include support around loss, separation and missing pets; this is not a count of bereaved individuals.
94%#
said their pet’s memory would live on
Among PDSA survey respondents who had lost a pet, 94% agreed that their pet’s memory would live on in their heart.
Survey agreement among 4,497 respondents who had experienced pet loss.
If you are looking for help after a loss, Blue Cross offers free Pet Loss Support ↗.
04 / Global market
How large is the pet funeral market?
These are commercial forecasts for worldwide revenue. They should not be used as estimates of the UK pet aftercare market.
$1.9 billion#
estimated global market in 2026
Grand View Research estimates the global pet funeral services market at US$1.9 billion in 2026.
Commercial estimate for worldwide revenue, not a UK market valuation.
66%#
global revenue share for cremation
Grand View Research estimates that cremation accounted for 66% of global pet funeral services revenue in 2025.
Share of market revenue, not the share of pets cremated; other market researchers use different estimates.
Published global forecasts
| Researcher | 2026 estimate | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| Grand View Research | US$1.90bn | US$3.60bn by 2033 |
| Fortune Business Insights | US$1.89bn | US$3.98bn by 2034 |
Forecast years differ, so the end values are not directly comparable. Fortune Business Insights estimates cremation at approximately 62% of 2025 global market revenue; Grand View Research reports 66%.
Using these figures
Quote the original source, and keep the scope attached.
This page curates published research; Pet Cremation UK did not conduct the surveys or produce the market forecasts. Each card has a ready-to-copy sentence with a link to that statistic on this page, plus a direct link to the original publisher for verification.
Population estimates, owner survey answers, support requests and revenue forecasts measure different things. The sources listed here do not publish a UK-wide annual pet death or cremation total. A figure derived from lifespan assumptions should be identified as a model, not a measured count.
Download all figures as CSV ↓Original sources
- UK Pet Food, Pet Population Survey (2026)Online survey of approximately 9,000 UK adults, conducted by Kantar. Figures are estimates and rounded.
- PDSA, PAW Mini Report (2025)PDSA and YouGov survey estimates for dogs, cats and rabbits; a different survey and methodology from UK Pet Food.
- Competition and Markets Authority, final decision report (2026)CMA pet owner survey; this aftercare result concerns respondents whose pet died in the preceding two years.
- Competition and Markets Authority, How people purchase veterinary services (2025)CMA pet owner survey result among people who purchased a cremation service.
- Blue Cross, Annual report and accounts (2024)Blue Cross Pet Loss Support service requests during 2024, not a count of unique people or UK pet deaths.
- PDSA, PAW Mini Report (2025)Agreement among surveyed pet owners who had experienced pet loss (base: 4,497).
- Grand View Research, Pet Funeral Services Market (2026)Commercial global market estimate and forecast; figures are revenue, not numbers of pets or UK-only sales.
- Fortune Business Insights, Pet Funeral Services Market (2026)Independent commercial global market estimate and forecast with its own definitions and horizon.
Page last reviewed: 12 October 2026. Figures remain attributed to the original publishers.
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