Data report · Updated October 2026
Kerala stray dogs statistics 2026: dog bites, rabies deaths, district data and the ABC programme
Kerala recorded 3,69,272 dog bite victims in 2025 and 33 rabies deaths, the state government told the assembly in June 2026. Bites have risen 172% since 2017. Thiruvananthapuram had the most bites from 2021 to 2025 and Kollam the most deaths. Local body ABC centres sterilised only 13,944 dogs in 2025.
Key findings
- Kerala recorded 3,69,272 dog bite victims in 2025, up 16.6% on 3,16,793 in 2024 and 172% on 1,35,749 in 2017.
- That works out to about 1,024 bites per lakh people in 2025, against 391 per lakh in 2017, by our calculation.
- Rabies killed 33 people in Kerala in 2025 and 122 in the five years from 2021, against 5 deaths in 2016.
- Kerala's own count of 3,16,793 bites in 2024 is 2.75 times the 1,15,046 that the national IDSP table shows for the state.
- Thiruvananthapuram had the most bite victims from 2021 to 2025, about 2.26 lakh, and Kollam had the most rabies deaths, 21.
- Local body ABC centres sterilised 13,944 stray dogs in 2025, fewer than 14,625 in 2023 and 14,923 in 2024.
- From January to May 2026 those centres sterilised 9,225 dogs, already 66% of the 2025 total.
- The 2019 Livestock Census counted 2,89,986 stray dogs in Kerala. The LSGD now projects about 3.5 lakh, while the Animal Husbandry Department has estimated 9 lakh.
- Since 2023, local bodies have paid Rs 1.27 crore to 269 stray dog victims on Siri Jagan committee awards, out of 1,522 cases filed.
How many people do stray dogs bite in Kerala every year?
Kerala recorded 3,69,272 dog bite victims in 2025. The Local Self Government Department gave that figure in a written assembly answer on 22 June 2026. It is about 1,012 bites a day.
The count has risen every year since 2016 except 2020. It was 1,35,217 in 2016, 2,21,379 in 2021 and 3,16,793 in 2024.
Kerala's population grew far more slowly than that. By our calculation, bites rose from about 391 per lakh people in 2017 to about 1,024 per lakh in 2025. For national context, see our India dog bite and rabies report.
Source: Kerala Legislative Assembly, unstarred question 291, answered 22 June 2026. The 2017 to 2021 figures match DHS data in the Siri Jagan committee report.
Show the numbers
| Label | cases |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1.35 lakh |
| 2017 | 1.36 lakh |
| 2018 | 1.49 lakh |
| 2019 | 1.61 lakh |
| 2020 | 1.60 lakh |
| 2021 | 2.21 lakh |
| 2022 | 2.89 lakh |
| 2023 | 3.06 lakh |
| 2024 | 3.17 lakh |
| 2025 | 3.69 lakh |
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| Year | Dog bite cases | Bites per lakh people | Rabies deaths | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,35,217 | 391.0 | 5 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
| 2017 | 1,35,749 | 390.5 | 8 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
| 2018 | 1,48,899 | 426.1 | 9 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
| 2019 | 1,61,055 | 458.5 | 8 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
| 2020 | 1,60,483 | 454.5 | 5 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
| 2021 | 2,21,379 | 623.8 | 11 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
| 2022 | 2,88,866 | 810.7 | 27 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
| 2023 | 3,06,427 | 856.5 | 25 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
| 2024 | 3,16,793 | 881.9 | 26 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
| 2025 | 3,69,272 | 1024.0 | 33 | Kerala assembly answer, 22 Jun 2026 |
Kerala Kaumudi first reported the 2025 total as 3.69 lakh in February 2026. The exact figure came in the June 2026 assembly answer. Bites from 2021 to 2025 add up to 15,02,737.
Partial data shows the rise continued into 2025 early. The Health Department told the State Child Rights Commission of 1,31,244 bites from January to April 2025, as reported by The South First.
How many people die of rabies in Kerala?
Rabies killed 33 people in Kerala in 2025, the highest yearly toll in the last decade. The Directorate of Health Services annual data lists 29 confirmed and 4 probable rabies deaths.
The five-year total from 2021 to 2025 was 122 deaths. Deaths jumped in 2022, from 11 to 27, and have stayed at 25 or more every year since. The state counted 5 deaths in 2016.
Some victims had been vaccinated. Of 16 deaths from January to May 2025, five had received preventive vaccine, the Health Department told the Child Rights Commission. A 2022 expert committee linked such deaths to bites on the head, face, neck and between the fingers.
Source: Kerala Legislative Assembly, unstarred question 291, 22 June 2026. DHS annual communicable disease data gives the same totals for 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Label | deaths |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 27 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 33 |
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Treatment questions belong with a doctor, who follows national guidelines on vaccine and immunoglobulin. Our anti-rabies injection guide sets out the official schedules and prices.
The DHS monthly table for 2025 shows April was the worst month, with 6 deaths. We found no official full count of 2026 rabies deaths published by October 2026.
Why do Kerala's dog bite figures differ from national data?
Kerala's own health data counts far more bites and deaths than the national surveillance table. For 2024, the state recorded 3,16,793 bites while IDSP showed 1,15,046 for Kerala, about 36% of the state figure.
The gap on deaths is wider. IDSP listed 0, 1 and 3 suspected rabies deaths for Kerala in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Directorate of Health Services counted 27, 25 and 26.
The national figures come from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, as given in a Lok Sabha answer of 1 April 2025. Kerala's 2022 IDSP figure of 4,000 bites suggests that reporting from the state was incomplete in early years.
Sources: Kerala assembly answer, 22 June 2026; Lok Sabha Unstarred Question 4870, 1 April 2025 (IDSP-IHIP).
Show the numbers
| Label | cases |
|---|---|
| 2024 state count | 3,16,793 |
| 2024 IDSP | 1,15,046 |
| 2023 state count | 3,06,427 |
| 2023 IDSP | 71,606 |
| 2022 state count | 2,88,866 |
| 2022 IDSP | 4,000 |
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| Year | State bite count | IDSP bite count | IDSP as % of state | State rabies deaths | IDSP rabies deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,88,866 | 4,000 | 1.4 | 27 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3,06,427 | 71,606 | 23.4 | 25 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3,16,793 | 1,15,046 | 36.3 | 26 | 3 |
The DHS splits its count into confirmed and probable deaths: 15 and 12 in 2022, 17 and 8 in 2023, 22 and 4 in 2024. Some reports quote only the confirmed figures.
Neither series is complete. Both rely on people reaching a health facility that reports. Still, Kerala's state series is the longer and more consistent one, so this report uses it as the main measure.
Which districts in Kerala have the most dog bites and rabies deaths?
Thiruvananthapuram had the most dog bite victims in Kerala from 2021 to 2025, about 2.26 lakh. Kollam followed with 1.72 lakh and Palakkad with 1.55 lakh, in the district table published by Kerala Kaumudi.
Kollam had the most rabies deaths over the five years, at 21. Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha lost 17 people each. Wayanad was the only district with no rabies death.
In 2024 alone, assembly records showed 50,870 bites in Thiruvananthapuram and 37,618 in Kollam.
Source: LSGD five-year data via Kerala Kaumudi, 3 February 2026. Larger figures were published rounded to lakh. The article text calls Palakkad second, but its table gives Kollam 1.72 lakh.
Show the numbers
| Label | cases |
|---|---|
| Thiruvananthapuram | 2.26 lakh |
| Kollam | 1.72 lakh |
| Palakkad | 1.55 lakh |
| Ernakulam | 1.48 lakh |
| Thrissur | 1.40 lakh |
| Alappuzha | 1.20 lakh |
| Kottayam | 1.11 lakh |
| Kozhikode | 86,535 |
| Kannur | 82,694 |
| Pathanamthitta | 75,912 |
| Malappuram | 57,465 |
| Kasaragod | 45,884 |
| Idukki | 45,810 |
| Wayanad | 33,527 |
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Source: LSGD five-year data via Kerala Kaumudi, 3 February 2026. District deaths add up to 122, and the 2022 to 2025 district counts match DHS annual data.
Show the numbers
| Label | deaths |
|---|---|
| Kollam | 21 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 17 |
| Alappuzha | 17 |
| Palakkad | 14 |
| Thrissur | 12 |
| Pathanamthitta | 8 |
| Ernakulam | 8 |
| Kozhikode | 8 |
| Malappuram | 6 |
| Kannur | 6 |
| Kottayam | 2 |
| Idukki | 2 |
| Kasaragod | 1 |
| Wayanad | 0 |
Embed this chart
| District | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2021 to 2025 total (LSGD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiruvananthapuram | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 17 |
| Kollam | 1 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 21 |
| Pathanamthitta | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Alappuzha | 2 | 6 | 3 | not listed | 17 |
| Kottayam | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Idukki | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Ernakulam | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Thrissur | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| Palakkad | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 14 |
| Malappuram | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Kozhikode | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Wayanad | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kannur | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Kasaragod | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kerala | 27 | 25 | 26 | 33 | 122 |
Bites and dogs do not line up neatly. Ernakulam had 4.9% of the dogs counted in 2019 but 9.9% of bite victims from 2021 to 2025. Kannur had 8.2% of the dogs and 5.5% of bites.
Some of this gap may come from people being bitten by pet dogs, which the totals include, and from where people seek treatment.
The DHS annual file for 2025 has no Alappuzha page. The state total of 33 implies 5 deaths there, which matches the LSGD five-year figure of 17.
How many stray dogs are there in Kerala?
The last official national count found 2,89,986 stray dogs in Kerala in 2019. That 20th Livestock Census figure was up 7.8% on 2,68,994 in 2012, and equals about 8.3 dogs per 1,000 people.
Kerala's own estimates differ widely. The LSGD told the assembly in June 2026 that no field count of street dogs had been done since 2014. It uses a projection of about 3.5 lakh.
The State Animal Husbandry Department gave a higher figure in November 2025. It said a 2019 to 2020 census found about 7 lakh stray dogs and estimated about 9 lakh.
A fresh state survey was under way in November 2025. No result had been published by October 2026. Our India street dog population report explains why the Livestock Census tends to undercount dogs in towns.
Sources: DAHD, 19th and 20th Livestock Census; LSGD assembly answer, 22 June 2026; State Animal Husbandry Department via Onmanorama, 9 November 2025. State figures are rounded estimates.
Show the numbers
| Label | dogs |
|---|---|
| State AHD estimate, 2025 | about 9 lakh |
| LSGD projection, 2026 | about 3.5 lakh |
| State animal census, 2019-20 | about 7 lakh |
| Livestock Census, 2019 | 2,89,986 |
| Livestock Census, 2012 | 2,68,994 |
Embed this chart
| District | Stray dogs, 2019 census | Share of state dogs (%) | Bite victims 2021-25 | Share of state bites (%) | Rabies deaths 2021-25 | Sterilised Nov 2024 to Sep 2025 | Share of sterilisations (%) | Sterilised per 100 dogs counted in 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kollam | 50,869 | 17.5 | 1,72,000 | 11.5 | 21 | 15,832 | 29.9 | 31.1 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 47,829 | 16.5 | 2,26,000 | 15.1 | 17 | 10,849 | 20.5 | 22.7 |
| Palakkad | 29,898 | 10.3 | 1,55,000 | 10.3 | 14 | 720 | 1.4 | 2.4 |
| Thrissur | 25,277 | 8.7 | 1,40,000 | 9.3 | 12 | 752 | 1.4 | 3.0 |
| Kannur | 23,666 | 8.2 | 82,694 | 5.5 | 6 | 930 | 1.8 | 3.9 |
| Alappuzha | 19,249 | 6.6 | 1,20,000 | 8.0 | 17 | 8,459 | 16.0 | 43.9 |
| Malappuram | 18,554 | 6.4 | 57,465 | 3.8 | 6 | 5,628 | 10.6 | 30.3 |
| Ernakulam | 14,155 | 4.9 | 1,48,000 | 9.9 | 8 | 2,386 | 4.5 | 16.9 |
| Pathanamthitta | 14,080 | 4.9 | 75,912 | 5.1 | 8 | 3,091 | 5.8 | 22.0 |
| Kozhikode | 14,044 | 4.8 | 86,535 | 5.8 | 8 | 1,010 | 1.9 | 7.2 |
| Kottayam | 9,915 | 3.4 | 1,11,000 | 7.4 | 2 | 1,344 | 2.5 | 13.6 |
| Kasaragod | 8,168 | 2.8 | 45,884 | 3.1 | 1 | 324 | 0.6 | 4.0 |
| Idukki | 7,375 | 2.5 | 45,810 | 3.1 | 2 | 766 | 1.4 | 10.4 |
| Wayanad | 6,907 | 2.4 | 33,527 | 2.2 | 0 | 904 | 1.7 | 13.1 |
One city has a recent count. A survey for Kollam Corporation, run with World Wide Veterinary Service, estimated 10,761 stray dogs in September 2026. It found one dog for every 37 residents, and 83% were sterilised. Our city-by-city stray dog report compares it with the metros.
The sterilisation column compares 11 months of surgery with a count taken six years earlier. Read it as a rough guide to effort, not as coverage.
Is Kerala's ABC sterilisation programme keeping up?
Sterilisation is slow, and two official counts disagree. Local body ABC centres sterilised and vaccinated 13,944 stray dogs in 2025, the LSGD told the assembly in June 2026. That was fewer than in 2023 or 2024.
The pace has picked up in 2026, with 9,225 dogs from January to May. A different state table, reported by Onmanorama in November 2025, showed 52,995 sterilisations from 1 November 2024 to 30 September 2025.
In that table, Kollam did 15,832 surgeries and Thiruvananthapuram 10,849, together half the total. Palakkad did 720 and Thrissur 752, though the two hold 19% of the dogs counted in 2019.
At the 2025 assembly rate, sterilising 70% of the 3.5 lakh projected dogs would take about 18 years. At the pace in the Onmanorama table it would take about 4 years. Both ignore births and deaths.
Source: Kerala Legislative Assembly, unstarred questions 264 and 291, 22 June 2026. 2026 covers January to May only.
Show the numbers
| Label | dogs |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 14,625 |
| 2024 | 14,923 |
| 2025 | 13,944 |
| 2026 (Jan to May) | 9,225 |
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Source: State data via Onmanorama, 9 November 2025. District figures add up to 52,995. The LSGD assembly answer gives a much lower count for local body centres.
Show the numbers
| Label | dogs |
|---|---|
| Kollam | 15,832 |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 10,849 |
| Alappuzha | 8,459 |
| Malappuram | 5,628 |
| Pathanamthitta | 3,091 |
| Ernakulam | 2,386 |
| Kottayam | 1,344 |
| Kozhikode | 1,010 |
| Kannur | 930 |
| Wayanad | 904 |
| Idukki | 766 |
| Thrissur | 752 |
| Palakkad | 720 |
| Kasaragod | 324 |
Embed this chart
| Item | Figure | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC centres running | 15, with sites found for 5 more | Feb 2025 | LSG Minister, via Onmanorama |
| Permanent ABC centres | 20 | Jan 2026 | State affidavit to the Supreme Court, via Bombay Samachar |
| Permanent ABC centres running, plus portable units | 20 permanent, 1 portable | Jun 2026 | LSGD assembly answer |
| New ABC centres built but not yet open | 9 | Jun 2026 | LSGD assembly answer |
| New ABC centres under construction | 10 | Jun 2026 | LSGD assembly answer |
| Block panchayats to get an ABC centre | 152 (one each) | Jun 2026 | LSGD assembly answer |
| Dedicated dog shelters | 2 | Jan 2026 | State affidavit to the Supreme Court |
| Designated dog feeding centres | 22 | Jan 2026 | State affidavit to the Supreme Court |
| Institutions fenced against strays | 20,872 done, 3,383 pending | Jan 2026 | State affidavit to the Supreme Court |
| Local body funds for dog vaccination, ABC and Rabies Free Kerala | Rs 47.6 crore | 2024-25 | Onmanorama, 3 Feb 2025 |
| Human anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin orders | Rs 28 crore | 2025-26 | State official, via Onmanorama, 9 Nov 2025 |
| ABC budget for local bodies | Rs 18.7 crore | 2026-27 | LSGD assembly answer |
The state government has blamed central rules for slowing new centres. Each ABC centre needs Animal Welfare Board recognition and a vet with over 2,000 surgeries, the minister said in February 2025. Our ABC coverage report compares Kerala with other states.
How much does Kerala spend on rabies vaccine for dogs?
Kerala's Animal Husbandry Department spent Rs 1.47 crore on 10 lakh doses of animal rabies vaccine in 2024-25. Spending was up from Rs 13.9 lakh for 2 lakh doses in 2016-17, RTI data reported by Onmanorama shows.
Across the seven years with data, the department bought 42.03 lakh doses for Rs 4.29 crore. The price per dose rose from Rs 6.95 to Rs 14.70.
More vaccine has not cut human deaths so far. Deaths rose from 5 in 2016 to 33 in 2025. Dog vaccine works only if enough street dogs are reached every year.
Source: RTI reply of the Animal Husbandry Department, via Onmanorama, 10 September 2025. No figures were given for 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Show the numbers
| Label | doses |
|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 2 lakh |
| 2017-18 | 4 lakh |
| 2020-21 | 6.04 lakh |
| 2021-22 | 6.07 lakh |
| 2022-23 | 4.03 lakh |
| 2023-24 | 9.9 lakh |
| 2024-25 | 10 lakh |
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| Year | Doses | Rs per dose | Total spend (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 2,00,000 | 6.95 | 13,90,000 |
| 2017-18 | 4,00,000 | 7.62 | 30,49,208 |
| 2020-21 | 6,03,500 | 7.03 | 42,45,622 |
| 2021-22 | 6,06,960 | 8.21 | 49,86,935 |
| 2022-23 | 4,02,930 | 9.12 | 36,54,000 |
| 2023-24 | 9,90,000 | 10.99 | 1,08,86,353 |
| 2024-25 | 10,00,000 | 14.70 | 1,47,00,000 |
Pet owners can check our monsoon dog care guide for seasonal health tips, and should keep their dog's rabies shots current.
Can stray dogs be euthanised in Kerala?
Only under narrow conditions, and the position has shifted through 2025 and 2026. On 16 July 2025 Kerala let local bodies euthanise diseased stray dogs. The order relied on Rule 8 of the 2023 animal husbandry practices rules.
On 31 July 2025, Justice C S Dias of the Kerala High Court deferred that clause, as LiveLaw reported. The case is Keerthana Sarin v State of Kerala.
The Supreme Court's judgment of 19 May 2026 then allowed euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill or demonstrably dangerous dogs. That needs assessment by qualified vets and must follow the ABC Rules, 2023.
In June 2026 the LSGD told the assembly it had asked all 1,034 local bodies to act on that direction through local ABC monitoring committees. It had issued no separate guidelines.
| Date | Body | What it decided |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2016 | Supreme Court | Set up the Justice Siri Jagan committee to fix compensation for stray dog victims in Kerala |
| Sep 2022 | Siri Jagan committee | Told the Supreme Court that ABC alone cannot reduce Kerala's street dog numbers |
| 16 Jul 2025 | Government of Kerala | Allowed local bodies to euthanise diseased stray dogs under Rule 8 |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Kerala High Court | Ordered district-level committees to decide dog bite compensation claims |
| 31 Jul 2025 | Kerala High Court | Deferred the euthanasia clause of the state order |
| Jan 2026 | Government of Kerala | Told the Supreme Court it had 2 dedicated shelters and 20 ABC centres |
| 19 May 2026 | Supreme Court | Ordered an ABC centre in every district and allowed euthanasia of rabid or dangerous dogs |
| 22 Jun 2026 | Government of Kerala | Told the assembly that all 1,034 local bodies were asked to apply the euthanasia direction through local ABC monitoring committees |
| 16 Sep 2026 | Kerala High Court | Began monthly monitoring of local bodies' compliance with Supreme Court directions |
The Supreme Court's national orders are tracked in our Supreme Court stray dog orders tracker. Feeding rules are covered in our stray dog feeding rules report.
How do dog bite victims claim compensation in Kerala?
Victims now file claims with the District Legal Services Authority in their district. The Kerala High Court ordered district committees on 28 July 2025, and a government order of 8 August 2025 set them up.
Each committee is chaired by the DLSA secretary and includes the District Medical Officer and a joint director of the Local Self Government Department. Claims pending before the Justice Siri Jagan committee were transferred to these panels.
The panels are now deciding old cases. In September 2026, a Kozhikode teacher bitten in 2014 was awarded Rs 52,000, payable by Keezhariyur grama panchayat.
| Measure | Figure | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claims on which reports were sent to the government | 881 | Sep 2022 | Committee report to Supreme Court, via LiveLaw |
| Claims on which the government passed payment orders | 749 | Sep 2022 | Committee report to Supreme Court, via LiveLaw |
| Applications received by the committee | 5,700 | Jun 2023 | Onmanorama |
| Applications examined | 818 | Jun 2023 | Onmanorama |
| Victims covered by the 41st report | 35 | Feb 2025 | Onmanorama |
| Range of awards in the 41st report | Rs 30,000 to Rs 17 lakh, with 9% interest | Feb 2025 | Onmanorama |
| Cases filed with the Siri Jagan committee since 2023 | 1,522 | Jun 2026 | LSGD assembly answer |
| Cases paid by local bodies, and amount | 269, Rs 1,26,56,349 | Jun 2026 | LSGD assembly answer |
| Paid by district committees since January 2026 | Rs 5,93,837 | Jun 2026 | LSGD assembly answer |
| Award to a 2014 bite victim in Kozhikode | Rs 52,000 | Sep 2026 | Onmanorama |
The LSGD told the assembly in June 2026 that 1,522 cases had been filed with the Siri Jagan committee since 2023. Local bodies had paid Rs 1,26,56,349 on 269 accepted cases. The district committees, working in all 14 districts since January 2026, had paid Rs 5,93,837.
The Kozhikode award broke down as Rs 25,000 for pain and suffering, Rs 20,000 for lost income, Rs 5,000 for medical costs and Rs 2,000 for travel. Rates in other states are compared in our dog bite compensation report.
Frequently asked questions
How many dog bite cases were there in Kerala in 2025?
Kerala recorded 3,69,272 dog bite victims in 2025, the state government told the assembly in June 2026. It works out to about 1,012 a day. The figure was 3,16,793 in 2024.
How many people died of rabies in Kerala in 2025?
Kerala recorded 33 rabies deaths in 2025, the highest in the last decade. The five-year total from 2021 to 2025 was 122. The state recorded 26 deaths in 2024 and 5 in 2016.
How many stray dogs are there in Kerala?
The 2019 Livestock Census counted 2,89,986 stray dogs in Kerala. The LSGD told the assembly in June 2026 that it projects about 3.5 lakh. The Animal Husbandry Department estimated about 9 lakh in November 2025. A new state survey had not been published by October 2026.
Which district in Kerala has the most stray dog bites?
Thiruvananthapuram had the most dog bite victims from 2021 to 2025, about 2.26 lakh. Kollam was next at 1.72 lakh. Kollam had the most rabies deaths in that period, 21.
Is euthanasia of stray dogs allowed in Kerala?
Kerala allowed euthanasia of diseased stray dogs in July 2025, but the High Court deferred that clause on 31 July 2025. The Supreme Court's May 2026 judgment allows euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill or dangerous dogs after veterinary assessment. It must follow the ABC Rules, 2023.
How do I claim compensation for a dog bite in Kerala?
File a complaint with the District Legal Services Authority in your district, by post or in person. A district committee decides the amount, and the local body pays. Keep hospital records, bills and proof of the bite location.
How many ABC centres does Kerala have?
Kerala had 20 permanent ABC centres and 1 portable unit in June 2026, the LSGD told the assembly. Nine more were built and 10 were under construction. Local body centres sterilised 13,944 dogs in 2025.
What should I do after a dog bite in Kerala?
Wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and go to a hospital the same day. Government hospitals in Kerala stock intradermal rabies vaccine, a state official said in November 2025. Follow your doctor on the full course of injections.
Methodology and limitations
Yearly dog bite figures and rabies deaths for 2016 to 2025 come from the LSGD's written answer to Kerala Legislative Assembly unstarred question 291, dated 22 June 2026. The 2017 to 2021 bite figures match DHS data quoted in the Siri Jagan committee report of September 2022.
Rabies deaths for 2020 to 2025 and district deaths for 2022 to 2025 were checked against DHS annual communicable disease data. The district five-year bite table comes from LSGD data reported by Kerala Kaumudi on 3 February 2026.
Stray dog counts by district are from the DAHD district file of the 20th Livestock Census, 2019. Yearly sterilisations at local body centres come from the June 2026 assembly answers. District sterilisations are state figures shown in an Onmanorama table of 9 November 2025. We checked that district figures add up to state totals.
Bites per lakh people are dogeats.in calculations, using 1 March population projections for Kerala from the Technical Group on Population Projections. Years-to-70% figures assume a constant sterilisation rate and ignore births, deaths and migration.
Sources
- Kerala Legislative Assembly, unstarred question 291, answered 22 June 2026 (LSGD), Dog bites and rabies deaths 2016 to 2025, ABC centres, sterilisations 2023 to May 2026, Rs 18.7 crore budget
- Directorate of Health Services, Kerala, communicable disease data for 2025, Rabies deaths 2025, confirmed and probable, by district and month
- DAHD, district-wise stray dogs, 20th Livestock Census 2019, Kerala and district stray dog counts
- Also consulted: Kerala Legislative Assembly, unstarred question 290, answered 22 June 2026 (LSGD), Kerala Legislative Assembly, unstarred question 264, answered 22 June 2026 (LSGD), Directorate of Health Services, Kerala, IDSP annual data 2024, Kerala Kaumudi, 3 February 2026, LSGD five-year data, LiveLaw, 23 September 2022, Siri Jagan committee report to the Supreme Court, Onmanorama, 3 February 2025, assembly records, Onmanorama, 10 September 2025, DHS and RTI data, Onmanorama, 9 November 2025, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question 4870, 1 April 2025, DAHD, 19th Livestock Census 2012, The South First, 13 July 2025, Bombay Samachar, 8 January 2026, The South First, 16 July 2025, LiveLaw, 31 July 2025, Bar and Bench, 28 July 2025, Bar and Bench, 16 September 2026, Supreme Court of India, judgment of 19 May 2026, Suo Motu WP(C) 5 of 2025, Onmanorama, 12 June 2023, Onmanorama, 23 September 2026, Onmanorama, 19 September 2026, Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections 2011 to 2036 (copy), Directorate of Health Services, Kerala, communicable disease data 2023, Directorate of Health Services, Kerala, communicable disease data 2022, Onmanorama, 29 April 2025, on the 2022 state expert committee, Deccan Chronicle, 9 September 2016, on the committee's formation.
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