Laboratory animal statistics in Germany

The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection annually publishes a report on the use of animals in scientific research. According to this a staggering 2.8 million animals have been sacrificed in the name of science in 2009 including mice, rats, rabbits, fish, hamsters, cats, dogs, monkeys, pigs, cattle, and many other animal species.  This is an increase of almost 100,000 animals or 3.5 % compared to 2008. 

Since recording began in 1989 the number of animals used in experiments decreased from 2.6 million in 1989 to 1.5 million in 1997, the lowest figure ever. Since then the number of animals used has risen dramatically. 

It has to be noted that the official report does not include all laboratory animals. Animals killed as »surplus« when establishing genetically modified lines and animals killed as »surplus« in breeding facilities are not included in the statistics. Also invertebrates are not counted.  Statistics on the number of animals used in animal experiments in Germany in 2009:

  Mice: 1,876,563
  Rats: 514,722
  Guinea pigs: 29,566
  Hamsters: 6,933
  Other rodents:7,632
  Rabbits: 59,208
  Cats: 793 
  Dogs: 3,832
  Ferrets: 100
  Other carnivores: 446
  Horses, donkeys: 917
  Pigs: 13,741
  Goats: 413
  Sheep: 2,690
  Cattle: 3,182
  Prosimians: 0
  New world monkeys: 424
  Old world monkeys: 1,889
  Apes: 0
  Other mammals: 283
  Quails: 1,943 
  Birds incl. poultry: 104,344
  Reptiles: 343
  Amphibians: 10,341
  Fish: 146,130
  Total: 2,786,435

Reference: Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection

Download animal experiments statistics as pdf: Number of animals used in laboratories in Germany between 1996 and 2009 EU animal experiments statistics 2005