South Africa has more than 20 million pets nationwide, with the local pet economy worth an estimated R8 billion to R10 billion a year.
Image: Nicola Mawson | IOL
South Africa is home to almost 7.5 million dogs, with new data showing dog ownership becomes increasingly common as people get older — and considerably more common among wealthier households.
Statistics South Africa's General Household Survey 2025 found that 21% of South African households owned dogs, amounting to an estimated 7.48 million pooches across the country.
"Every neighbourhood has one. The family whose dog enthusiastically greets everyone walking past the gate. The retiree taking the same faithful companion for an early morning stroll, or the farm dog that's always first to notice a visitor arriving," the agency said.
Most dog-owning households kept relatively small packs. More than half had just one dog and just over a quarter had two, while households with five or more were relatively rare.
But South Africa's love of dogs varies considerably depending on where — and how — people live. The Northern Cape takes the dog-loving crown, with just over a third of households owning dogs, closely followed by the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. Dogs were considerably less common in Limpopo, Gauteng and Mpumalanga, where fewer than one in six households had one.
Rural households were also more likely to own a dog than their urban counterparts. However, because most South Africans live in towns and cities, almost two-thirds of dog-owning households were urban, with almost three million of the country's 7.48 million dogs living in metropolitan areas.
Just 11% of households headed by someone aged between 15 and 34 owned dogs. By the time the household head was 75 or older, that had climbed to almost a third — nearly three times the rate among the youngest group. Cat ownership followed a similar trend, increasing from 2.9% to 10.2% across the same age groups.
Children also appear to make a difference. Fewer than one in five households without children owned dogs, compared with about a quarter of those with three or more children. "Whether it's children asking for 'just one puppy' or families enjoying the companionship that pets bring, larger households were more likely to include four-legged family members," said Statistics South Africa.
Money also matters. About a third of households in the wealthiest quintile owned dogs, compared with just 13% in the poorest – making the richest households more than twice as likely to have one. More than four out of 10 households in the highest living standards categories owned dogs, roughly twice the national rate.
Having a home of their own was another feature common among dog owners. More than eight out of 10 dog-owning households lived in freestanding dwellings, while dog ownership was most common among households that owned their homes.
Just 11% of households headed by someone aged between 15 and 34 owned dogs. By the time the household head was 75 or older, that had climbed to almost a third.
Image: ChatGPT from StatsSA data
Those millions of dogs also represent a sizeable consumer market. Trend analyst and Flux Trends founder Dion Chang said South Africa has more than 20 million pets nationwide, with the local pet economy worth an estimated R8 billion to R10 billion a year – and ranks the country as the fourth most pet-friendly in the world.
Major South African retailers are already chasing that spending. Chang points to Woolworths' acquisition of Absolute Pets in 2024, Pick n Pay's pet club and the rollout of standalone Petshop Science stores alongside new Checkers outlets.
Spar has also entered the market with Pet Storey, which plans to reach 100 stores by the end of 2026, Chang says in an oped published on mba.co.za.
Globally, that spending can reach extraordinary levels. Chang points to Louis Vuitton's Bone Trunk – a portable feeding station containing two pet bowls set into a tray – which costs around R330,000.
Chang said South Africa is following a broader global trend in which pets are increasingly regarded as members of the family, fuelling spending on everything from everyday necessities to luxury products and services.
Demographic shifts, including ageing populations and changing ideas about what constitutes a family, are helping drive the growth of the global pet economy, he said.
International Dog Day is about more than celebrating beloved pets. "It also shines a spotlight on dog adoption, responsible ownership and the remarkable contribution that dogs make to society, from guiding people with disabilities and assisting police and military units to helping search-and-rescue teams save lives," Statistics South Africa said.
"While every pet owner might insist that their pet is the best and cleverest, the data reveal one thing for certain: when South Africans choose a pet, they're far more likely to choose a dog,” the agency added.
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