Islamabad: Pet ownership in Pakistan remains significantly below the global average, with only 35% of Pakistanis reporting having pets compared to 56% globally, according to the WIN Worldviews Survey 2026. The survey indicates that “other” animals, including livestock such as cows and goats, are more prevalent among Pakistani pet owners, while conventional pets like cats and dogs are less common.

According to Gilani Research Foundation, the survey reveals a distinct pattern of pet ownership in Pakistan. While globally, dogs and cats are the most popular pets, in Pakistan, 46% of pet owners reported having “other” animals, a category led by livestock. Only 26% of Pakistani pet owners reported having cats, and 16% reported having dogs. Birds were reported by 21% of pet owners, while fish and turtles were less common at 3% and 2%, respectively.

This divergence from global trends highlights the unique characteristics of animal ownership in Pakistan, where traditional companion animals are less prevalent. The survey, conducted by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, involved telephonic interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 men and women across urban and rural areas of the country. The fieldwork took place from December 2025 to January 2026, with a margin of error estimated at ± 2-3 percent.

On the international stage, Pakistan’s pet ownership rate stands at 35%, considerably below countries such as India (70%), Malaysia (69%), and Indonesia (69%). However, it remains higher than Turkey (32%), Japan (28%), South Korea (25%), and Vietnam (20%). In contrast, Latin America boasts the highest pet ownership rates, with countries like Mexico and Ecuador leading at 86%.

The findings underscore that while Pakistan has one of the lower levels of household pet ownership among surveyed countries, the nature of animal ownership is distinct, with a significant emphasis on livestock over traditional pets.