What Statistics Tell Us: The Aftermath of the Pet Boom During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The "Statistics Speak" series published in METI Journal ONLINE by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry provides detailed analysis of pet boom trends following the COVID-19 pandemic. Dog registrations peaked at 6.88 million in fiscal 2009 and decreased to 6.06 million by fiscal 2023, though the rate of decline has been moderating. Cat numbers peaked at 8.95 million in 2021, then began increasing again from 2023 to reach 9.16 million. In the pet and pet product market, nominal sales rose in fiscal 2023, but real sales adjusted for inflation have continued declining since fiscal 2022, primarily due to rising prices of pet food and supplies. The tertiary industry activity index for veterinary services recorded a 4.1% year-over-year decrease in fiscal 2024. Surveys indicate that "expensive care costs" and "high pet purchase prices" are major barriers to pet ownership, particularly among people in their 20s and 30s, demonstrating how inflation is affecting the overall pet market.