Annual statistics of animals used in Great Britain

Number of animals used in 2021
Number of animals used in 2020
Number of animals used in 2019
Number of animals used in 2018
Number of animals used in 2017
Number of animals used in 2016
Number of animals used in 2015
Number of animals used in 2014
Number of animals used in 2013
Number of animals used in 2012
Number of animals used in 2011
Number of animals used in 2010
Number of animals used in 2009
Number of animals used in 2008


Number of animals used in 2021

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2021 has increased by 6% to 3.06 million

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 96% of all procedures 

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.2% of all procedures

  • Half of these procedures were carried out by ten organisations

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2019 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Number of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2021

Species 

Experimental Procedures 

Procedures for the Creation & Breeding of Genetically Altered Animals

Total Procedures (2021) 

% change from 2020

Mice 

933,482 

54.05% 

1,150,627 

86.56% 

2,084,109 

68.19% 

0.85% 

Fish 

258,579 

14.97% 

165,555 

12.45% 

424,134 

13.88% 

12.94% 

Rats 

188,020 

10.89% 

9,454 

0.71% 

197,474 

6.46% 

-5.34% 

Birds 

241,601 

13.99% 

1,552 

0.12% 

243,153 

7.96% 

94.30% 

Other mammals 

78,427 

4.54% 

110 

0.01% 

78,537 

2.57% 

-4.78% 

Reptiles 

0.00% 

0.00% 

0.00% 

Amphibians 

8,909 

0.52% 

1,965 

0.15% 

10,874 

0.36% 

50.28% 

Primates 

2,795 

0.16% 

0.00% 

2,795 

0.09% 

16.80% 

Cats 

155 

0.01% 

0.00% 

155 

0.01% 

6.16% 

Dogs 

4,227 

0.24% 

0.00% 

4,227 

0.14% 

-2.60% 

Horses 

10,776 

0.62% 

0.00% 

10,776 

0.35% 

-0.13% 

Total 

1,726,980 

100% 

1,329,263 

100% 

3,056,243 

100% 

6.00% 

Severity of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2021 

Severity 

Experimental Procedures 

Procedures for the Creation & Breeding of Genetically Altered Animals 

Total Procedures (2021)

Change from 2020 

Sub threshold 

351,091 

20.34% 

964,750 

72.58% 

1,315,841 

43.06% 

Non-recovery 

72,345 

4.19% 

1,341 

0.10% 

73,686 

2.41% 

Mild 

861,638 

49.91% 

306,922 

23.09% 

1,168,560 

38.24% 

Moderate 

383,400 

22.21% 

27,468 

2.07% 

410,868 

13.45% 

Severe 

58,003 

3.36% 

28,782 

2.17% 

86,785 

2.84% 

Total 

1,726,477 

100% 

1,329,263 

100% 

3,055,740 

100% 

 


Number of animals used in 2020

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2020 has decreased by 15% to 2.88 million

  • Large decrease in numbers due to various COVID-19 national lockdowns

  • Lowest number of procedures since 2004

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 96% of all procedure 

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.2% of all procedures

  • Half of these procedures were carried out by ten organisations

In 2020, animal research has been essential for developing lifesaving vaccines and treatments for Covid-19. Ferrets and macaque monkeys were used to test the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines, including the successful Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Hamsters are being used to develop Covid-19 treatment strategies as they display a more severe form of the disease than ferrets and monkeys. Guinea pigs have also been used in regulatory research to batch-test vaccine potency. 

Despite all this research to develop vaccines and treatments for Covid-19, the majority of UK research facilities carried out significantly less research than usual, due to the various national lockdowns. Therefore, the 2020 figures cannot be reasonably compared with previous statistics.

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2020 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article. 

Number of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2020

Species Experimental Procedures % Procedures for the Creation & Breeding of Genetically Altered Animals % Total Procedures (2020) % % change from 2019
Mice 827,801 57.35% 1,238,834 86.03% 2,066,635 71.68% -17.58%
Fish 189,200 13.11% 186,332 12.94% 375,532 13.02% -21.70%
Rats 198,763 13.77% 9,847 0.68% 208,610 7.24% 21.94%
Birds 123,157 8.53% 1,988 0.14% 125,145 4.34% -5.77%
Other mammals 82,328 5.70% 155 0.01% 82,483 2.86% -3.43%
Reptiles 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0%
Amphibians 4,399 0.30% 2,837 0.20% 7,236 0.25% -1.90%
Primates 2,393 0.17% 0 0.00% 2,393 0.08% -16.04%
Cats 146 0.01% 0 0.00% 146 0.01% 11.45%
Dogs 4,340 0.30% 0 0.00% 4,340 0.15% 2.67%
Horses 10,790 0.75% 0 0.00% 10,790 0.37% 2.64%
Total 1,443,317 50.06% 1,439,993 49.94% 2,883,310 100% -15.23%

Severity of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2020

Severity Experimental Procedures % Procedures for the Creation & Breeding of Genetically Altered Animals % Total Procedures (2020) % Change for 2019
Sub threshold 207,471 14.37% 1,052,212 73.07% 1,259,683 43.69%
Non-recovery 98,456 6.82% 1,187 0.08% 99,643 3.46%
Mild 729,655 50.55% 330,577 22.96% 1,060,232 36.77%
Moderate 349,236 24.20% 28,121 1.95% 377,357 13.09%
Severe 58,499 4.05% 27,896 1.94% 86,395 3.00%
Total 1,443,317   1,439,993   2,883,310    

Number of animals used in 2019

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2019 has decreased by 3% to 3.4 million

  • Lowest number of procedures since 2007

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 96% of all procedure 

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.2% of all procedures

  • Half of these procedures were carried out by ten organisations.

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2019 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Number of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2019

Species Experimental Procedures % Procedures for the Creation & Breeding of Genetically Altered Animals % Total Procedures (2019) % of total % change from 2018
Mice 1,048,759 60.63% 1,458,790 87.25% 2,507,549 73.72% -2.36%
Fish 278,860 16.12% 200,721 12.01% 479,581 14.10% -6.76%
Rats 162,669 9.40% 8,400 0.50% 171,069 5.03% -3.84%
Birds 130,682 7.56% 2,126 0.13% 132,808 3.90% -10.29%
Other mammals 85,227 4.93% 187 0.01% 85,414 2.51% +2.68%
Reptiles 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00%  -100.00%
Amphibians 5,729 0.33% 1,647 0.10% 7,376 0.22% -25.29%
Primates 2,850 0.16% 0 0.00% 2,850 0.08% -11.13%
Cats 131 0.01% 0 0.00% 131 0.00% -17.61%
Dogs 4,227 0.24% 0 0.00% 4,227 0.12% -5.67%
Horses 10,512 0.61% 0 0.00% 10,512 0.31% +0.84%
Total 1,729,646 100% 1,671,871 100% 3,401,517 100% -3.36%

Severity of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2019

Severity Experimental Procedures % Procedures for the Creation & Breeding of Genetically Altered Animals % Total Procedures (2019) % Change from 2018 
Sub threshold 195,207 11.29% 1,237,260 74.00% 1,432,467 42.11%
Non-recovery 85,106 4.92% 1,120 0.07% 86,226 2.53%
Mild 897,498 51.89% 354,815 21.22% 1,252,313 36.82%
Moderate 479,058 27.70% 45,611 2.73% 524,669 15.42%
Severe 72,777 4.21% 33,065 1.98% 105,842 3.11%
Total 1,729,646 100.00% 1,671,871 100.00% 3,401,517 100.00%  

Number of animals used in 2018

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2018 has decreased by 7% to 3.52 million

  • Lowest number of procedures since 2007

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 97% of all procedure 

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.2% of all procedures

  • Half of these procedures were carried out by ten organisations.

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2018 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

 

Number of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2018

Species

Experimental Procedures

% Procedures for the Creation & Breeding of Genetically Altered Animals %

Total Procedures (2018)

% of total

% change from 2017

Mice

1,078,738

59.86%

1,489,459

86.7%

2,568,197

72.96%

-7.67%

Fish

297,811

16.53%

216,529

12.6%

514,340

14.61%

+0.05%

Rats

170,665

9.47%

7,239

0.42%

177,904

5.05%

-26.35%

Birds

146,860

8.15%

1,187

0.07%

148,047

4.21%

+12.15%

Other mammals

82,754

4.59%

427

0.02%

83,181

2.36%

-10.51%

Reptiles

104

0.01%

0

0%

104

0.003%

+13.04%

Amphibians

6,827

0.38%

3,046

0.18%

9,873

0.28%

+4.69%

Primates

3,207

0.18%

0

0%

3,207

0.09%

+8.34%

Cats

159

0.01%

0

0%

159

0.005%

-19.70%

Dogs

4,481

0.25%

0

0%

4,481

0.13%

+16.48%

Horses

10,424

0.58%

0

0%

10,424

0.30%

-1.66%

Total

1,802,030

 

1,717,887

 

3,519,917

100%

-7.11% 

Severity of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2018

Severity

Experimental Procedures

% Procedures for the Creation & Breeding of Genetically Altered Animals %

Total Procedures (2018)

Change from 2017

Sub Threshold

186,011

10.3%

1,229,656

71.6%

1,415,657 (40.2%)

Non-Recovery

90,054

5%

505

0.03%

90,559 (2.6%)

Mild

961,246

53.3%

409,303

23%

1,370,549 (39%)

Moderate

477,162

26.5%

40,560

2.4%

517,722 (14.7%)

=

Severe

87,557

4.9%

37,863

2.2%

125,420 (3.6%)

=


Number of animals used in 2017

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2017 has decreased by 4% to 3.8 million

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 96% of all procedure

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.2% of all procedures

  • Dog and primate use falls to 40 year low

  • A third of these procedures were carried out by ten universities.

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2017 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Severity of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2017

Category

2016

2017

Change from 2016

Sub-threshold

38.4%

42.5%

Mild

37.7%

35.7%

Moderate

16.0%

14.5%

Severe

3.9%

3.6%

Non-recovery

4.0%

3.6%


Number of animals used in 2016

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2016 has decreased by 5% to 3.9 million

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 96% of all procedure 

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.2% of all procedures

  • A third of these procedures were carried out by ten universities.

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2016 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Number of Animal Procedures on the Most Commonly Used Species in Great Britain in 2016

 Species

2015

2016

Change from 2015

Mice

3,038,167

2,866,435

Fish

561,424

535,819

Rats

268,522

249,389

Birds

141,425

151,403

Number of Animal Procedures on Species with Special Protections in Great Britain in 2016

 Species

2015

2016

Change from 2015

Dogs

4,643

4,932

Cats

209

190

Primates

3.612

3,569

Horses

8,356

8,948

Severity of Animal Procedures in Great Britain in 2016

Category

2015

2016

Change from 2015

Sub-threshold

33.7%

38.4%

Mild

45.1%

37.7%

Moderate

13.7%

16.0%

Severe

4.5%

3.9%

Non-recovery

3.1%

4.0%

Number of animals used in 2015

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2015 has increased by 1% (compared to 2013) to 4.1 million

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 96% of all procedure 

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.2% of all procedures

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2015 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Species Experimental Procedures Procedures for the Creation & Breeding of Genetically Altered Animals Total Procedures (2015) % of total
Mice 1,264,501 1,773,666 3,038,167 73.3%
Fish 293,556 267,868 561,424 13.6%
Rats 257,665 10,857 268,522 6.5%
Birds 140,724 701 141,425 3.4%
Other Mammals 113,191 336 113,527 2.7%
Other Non-Mammals 10,333 9,233 19,566 0.5%
TOTAL 2,079,970 2,062,661 4,142,631  

Number of animals used in 2014

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2014 has decreased by 6% to 3.87 million

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 95% of all procedure 

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.4% of all procedures

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2014 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Number of animals used in 2013

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2013 has increased by 0.3% to 4.12 million

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 98% of all procedure 

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.4% of all procedures

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2013 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Number of animals used in 2012

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2012 has increased by 8% to 4.11 million

  • Mice, fish, rats, and birds account for over 97% of all procedure 

  • Cats, dogs, and primates account for 0.2% of all procedures

table-of-procedures-used.jpg

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2012 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Number of animals used in 2011

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2011 has increased by 2% to 3.79 million

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2011 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Number of animals used in 2010

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2010 has increased by 3% to 3.7 million

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2010 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Number of animals used in 2009

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2009 has decreased by 1% to 3.6 million

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2009 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

Number of animals used in 2008

  • Number of procedures on animals in 2008 has increased by 14% to 3.66 million

For a more detailed breakdown of the 2008 animal research statistics for Great Britain, read our news article

 

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