Data report · Updated October 2026
How many pet dogs does India have, and how big is its pet food market?
India has somewhere between 2.6 crore and 3.7 crore pet dogs, depending on whose estimate you use. Private estimates put the pet food market at roughly USD 680 million to USD 900 million a year. Imports of packaged dog and cat food alone reached Rs 1,140 crore in 2024-25, nearly five times the 2017-18 figure.
Key findings
- Published estimates of India's pet dog population range from about 2.6 crore (derived from Ken Research) to 3.68 crore (Euromonitor) for 2024.
- Redseer counts 3.2 crore pets of all species in Indian households in FY24, which works out to roughly 0.1 pets per household.
- Pet food market estimates range from USD 680 million (Ken Research, 2024) to USD 872 million (Credence Research, 2024).
- Imports of packaged dog and cat food grew from Rs 236 crore in 2017-18 to Rs 1,140 crore in 2024-25, according to TradeStat.
- Thailand supplied Rs 710 crore of the Rs 1,140 crore imported in 2024-25, a 62% share.
- India imported Rs 512 crore more dog and cat food than it exported in 2024-25.
- Industry voices put packaged food penetration at under 10% of pets, against about 90% in Europe.
- Across 58 breeds in our guides, the median monthly food bill is Rs 3,250, rising from Rs 1,600 for small dogs to Rs 7,500 for giants.
- Only 5,767 pet dogs were registered with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in August 2025, so city registers badly undercount pets.
How many pet dogs are there in India?
Nobody counts pet dogs in India. The Livestock Census counts street dogs, but owned pets are not part of any official headcount. Every national figure comes from a market research firm, and they do not agree.
The highest published number is Euromonitor's 3.68 crore dogs in 2024, as reported by the trade outlet GlobalPETS. The same report projects more than 5.1 crore dogs by 2028. A PTI report carried by Business Standard in May 2024 used 3.1 crore pet dogs for the end of 2023.
Ken Research gives a lower base. It counts 3.67 crore pets of all species in 2024 and says dogs were 71.5% of them. That implies about 2.6 crore dogs, a full crore below Euromonitor.
Euromonitor via GlobalPETS (April 2025); PTI via Business Standard (May 2024); Ken Research figure is dogeats.in's calculation from its pet count and dog share. Estimates, not a census.
Show the numbers
| Label | million dogs |
|---|---|
| Euromonitor, 2024 | 3.68 crore |
| PTI report, end of 2023 | 3.1 crore |
| Ken Research (derived), 2024 | 2.62 crore |
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| Source | Year | What it counts | Figure (million) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euromonitor, via GlobalPETS | 2024 | Pet dogs | 36.8 |
| Euromonitor projection, via GlobalPETS | 2028 | Pet dogs | 51 |
| GlobalPETS, Euromonitor data | 2019 | All pets | 26 |
| GlobalPETS, Euromonitor data | 2024 | All pets | 42 |
| PTI report in Business Standard | 2023 | Pet dogs (projection) | 31 |
| Redseer Strategy Consultants | FY24 | All pets in households | 32 |
| Ken Research | 2020 | All pets | 28.4 |
| Ken Research | 2025 | All pets | 39.2 |
| Drools CEO, GlobalPETS interview | 2026 | All pets | 32 |
The spread matters. A brand sizing its market on 3.7 crore dogs is planning for 40% more customers than one using 2.6 crore. Treat any single figure as an estimate with a wide margin.
Ownership is growing on every estimate
Ken Research puts India's pet population at 2.84 crore in 2020 and 3.92 crore in 2025. Over those five years the population grew 38%.
Dogs are losing share to cats in that series. Ken Research says dogs were 81.9% of pets in 2020 and 70.2% in 2025. Even so, its implied dog count still rises, from about 2.33 crore to 2.75 crore.
Ownership is still thin by global standards. Redseer counts 0.10 pets per Indian household, against 1.06 in the US and 0.82 in Germany.
Ken Research, India Pet Food Market report. Market research estimate.
Show the numbers
| Label | million pets |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 28.4 million |
| 2021 | 30.3 million |
| 2022 | 32.3 million |
| 2023 | 34.4 million |
| 2024 | 36.7 million |
| 2025 | 39.2 million |
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First-time owners feed differently. They are more likely to follow a breeder's or vet's advice, which is how packaged food usually enters a home. Our puppy feeding guide covers the first months.
How big is the pet food market in India?
Most current estimates sit between USD 680 million and USD 900 million a year. In rupees that is roughly Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 8,000 crore, at recent exchange rates. All are private estimates, and none of the firms publish their method in full.
Ken Research values the market at USD 680 million in 2024 and USD 770 million in 2025. Credence Research puts 2024 at USD 872 million. A Tetra Pak release on a Drools investment, citing Mordor Intelligence, gave USD 700 million to USD 900 million in April 2026.
Older industry figures fit the same range. In 2022 the managing director of Mars Petcare India told afaqs the market was Rs 4,000 crore in 2021. A Supertails co-founder put packaged pet food at USD 700 million to USD 800 million in the same article.
Ranges plotted at their midpoint. Ken Research and Credence Research report pages; Tetra Pak release (April 2026); afaqs (May 2022). Estimates, not audited sales.
Show the numbers
| Label | USD million |
|---|---|
| Credence Research, 2024 | USD 872 mn |
| Mordor via Tetra Pak, 2026 | USD 700 to 900 mn |
| Ken Research, 2025 | USD 770 mn |
| Supertails co-founder, 2022 | USD 700 to 800 mn |
| Ken Research, 2024 | USD 680 mn |
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| Source | Year | Market size | Growth claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mars Petcare India MD, in afaqs | 2021 | Rs 4,000 crore | About 30% in 2021 |
| Supertails co-founder, in afaqs | 2022 | USD 700 to 800 million (packaged) | Not stated |
| Ken Research | 2024 | USD 680 million | 16.6% a year, 2020 to 2025 |
| Ken Research | 2025 | USD 770 million | 11.8% a year to 2032 |
| Credence Research | 2024 | USD 872 million | 10.45% a year to 2032 |
| Mordor Intelligence, via Tetra Pak | 2026 | USD 700 to 900 million | 11 to 16% a year |
| Redseer (all pet care, not food) | 2024 | USD 3.6 billion | USD 7 billion by 2028 |
Do not confuse pet food with pet care. Redseer's USD 3.6 billion for 2024 covers food, grooming, vet care and accessories together. Redseer says food, grooming and healthcare make up about 80% of that spend.
Few dogs eat packaged food
In a July 2026 interview with GlobalPETS, Drools CEO Shashank Sinha put packaged pet food penetration at 7 to 8% of India's 3.2 crore pets. In 2022 a Supertails co-founder told afaqs it was under 10%, against nearly 90% in Europe.
Most Indian dogs eat home food from the family kitchen. The same Supertails co-founder estimated spending on home-cooked pet meals at USD 4 billion to USD 5 billion a year, five to six times his packaged figure.
Penetration figures come from companies that sell packaged food, so they have a reason to stress the gap. No independent household survey of feeding habits has been published.
Drools CEO in GlobalPETS (July 2026), midpoint of 7 to 8%. Supertails co-founder in afaqs (May 2022), stated as under 10% for India and nearly 90% for Europe.
Show the numbers
| Label | % |
|---|---|
| India, Drools CEO 2026 | 7 to 8% |
| India, Supertails 2022 | under 10% |
| Europe, Supertails 2022 | about 90% |
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If you cook for your dog, our adult dog feeding guide and katori portion guide give Indian quantities. Our dog food brands comparison covers the packaged side. Ask your vet before a full switch either way.
Imports grew almost fivefold
India imported Rs 1,140 crore of packaged dog and cat food in 2024-25, or USD 134.87 million. The figure is official customs data from the Ministry of Commerce's TradeStat database, under HS code 23091000.
The value rose 4.8 times in seven years, from Rs 236 crore in 2017-18. The jump came in 2021-22, when imports almost doubled in a single year to Rs 1,044 crore.
Volume grew more slowly. India imported 20.3 million kg in 2017-18 and 56.2 million kg in 2024-25. Volume actually fell after the 2021-22 peak of 63.1 million kg.
TradeStat EIDB, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, HS 23091000. Figures include re-imports.
Show the numbers
| Label | Rs crore |
|---|---|
| 2017-18 | Rs 236 crore |
| 2018-19 | Rs 324 crore |
| 2019-20 | Rs 434 crore |
| 2020-21 | Rs 566 crore |
| 2021-22 | Rs 1,044 crore |
| 2022-23 | Rs 1,038 crore |
| 2023-24 | Rs 1,047 crore |
| 2024-25 | Rs 1,140 crore |
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| Year | Imports (Rs crore) | Imports (USD million) | Imports (tonnes) | Exports (Rs crore) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 235.80 | 36.60 | 20,256 | 234.20 |
| 2018-19 | 324.40 | 46.43 | 24,631 | 252.53 |
| 2019-20 | 434.27 | 61.22 | 31,498 | 261.68 |
| 2020-21 | 565.79 | 76.40 | 37,633 | 337.90 |
| 2021-22 | 1,043.73 | 139.84 | 63,138 | 458.75 |
| 2022-23 | 1,037.64 | 129.50 | 56,842 | 496.34 |
| 2023-24 | 1,046.64 | 126.42 | 52,800 | 490.62 |
| 2024-25 | 1,139.67 | 134.87 | 56,225 | 627.91 |
The average declared import value worked out to Rs 116 a kg in 2017-18 and Rs 203 a kg in 2024-25. We calculated these from the TradeStat value and quantity columns.
India is also an exporter. It shipped Rs 628 crore of dog and cat food in 2024-25. Germany led at Rs 170.44 crore, followed by the UK at Rs 114.14 crore and the US at Rs 109.34 crore. Imports still exceeded exports by Rs 512 crore.
Thailand supplies most imports
Thailand supplied Rs 710 crore of India's dog and cat food in 2024-25, a 62% share.
France and Italy follow, at Rs 81.91 crore and Rs 71.92 crore. South Africa was the second supplier in 2023-24 at Rs 101.07 crore, but its shipments fell 43% the next year.
TradeStat EIDB, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, HS 23091000.
Show the numbers
| Label | Rs crore |
|---|---|
| Thailand | Rs 709.74 crore |
| France | Rs 81.91 crore |
| Italy | Rs 71.92 crore |
| South Africa | Rs 58.04 crore |
| Indonesia | Rs 44.37 crore |
| China | Rs 41.06 crore |
| UK | Rs 19.99 crore |
| Spain | Rs 19.67 crore |
| Canada | Rs 16.20 crore |
| Belgium | Rs 12.34 crore |
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| Country | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 589.87 | 709.74 | +20 |
| France | 92.16 | 81.91 | -11 |
| Italy | 86.60 | 71.92 | -17 |
| South Africa | 101.07 | 58.04 | -43 |
| Indonesia | 45.80 | 44.37 | -3 |
| China | 32.29 | 41.06 | +27 |
| UK | 13.04 | 19.99 | +53 |
| Spain | 14.96 | 19.67 | +31 |
| Canada | 9.27 | 16.20 | +75 |
| Belgium | 8.20 | 12.34 | +50 |
Pet dogs by city
No one knows for certain, because no city publishes a reliable count. Pet dog licences are mandatory in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Noida, but compliance is low. Registration numbers tell you more about enforcement than about ownership.
Chennai is the clearest example. The Greater Chennai Corporation had issued 73,754 pet licences by February 2026, after a 2025 drive tied to microchipping and Rs 5,000 fines. Delhi's MCD had only 5,767 registered pet dogs in August 2025.
National Herald (Chennai, Feb 2026, all pets); PTI via The Week (Noida, Aug 2025); The Daily Guardian (Delhi MCD, Aug 2025); The Hitavada (Bhopal, June 2026, dogs only).
Show the numbers
| Label | registrations |
|---|---|
| Chennai (GCC) | 73,754 |
| Noida | 8,169 |
| Delhi (MCD) | 5,767 |
| Bhopal | 256 |
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| City | Figure | What it is | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai | 73,754 | Pet licences issued | Feb 2026 | National Herald |
| Noida | 8,169 | Pet dogs registered | Aug 2025 | PTI, in The Week |
| Delhi (MCD area) | 5,767 | Pet dogs registered | Aug 2025 | The Daily Guardian |
| Bhopal | 256 | Pet dogs registered | June 2026 | The Hitavada |
| Bengaluru | 80,000+ | Estimated pet dogs (unnamed sources) | Nov 2021 | IANS, in Onmanorama |
Market research points the same way as Chennai's numbers. Credence Research gives South India the largest regional share of pet food sales, at 32%, naming Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. Our city breed rankings cover climate fit by city.
How much does it cost to feed a dog in India each month?
The median across the 58 breeds in our guides is Rs 3,250 a month, or about Rs 39,000 a year. Size drives most of the difference. A small dog's median is Rs 1,600 and a giant breed's is Rs 7,500.
Native breeds come out cheaper, with a median of Rs 3,000 against Rs 3,750 for foreign breeds. That gap is mostly size and diet, since an Indie usually does well on simple home food.
dogeats.in breed guides, October 2026. Midpoint of each breed's monthly food range, median per size class.
Show the numbers
| Label | Rs a month |
|---|---|
| Small | Rs 1,600 |
| Medium | Rs 2,950 |
| Large | Rs 4,500 |
| Giant | Rs 7,500 |
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| Breed | Size class | Low (Rs) | High (Rs) | Midpoint (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tibetan Mastiff | Giant | 6,000 | 12,000 | 9,000 |
| English Mastiff | Giant | 6,000 | 12,000 | 9,000 |
| Bully Kutta | Giant | 6,000 | 12,000 | 9,000 |
| Great Dane | Giant | 6,000 | 10,000 | 8,000 |
| Saint Bernard | Giant | 6,000 | 10,000 | 8,000 |
| Bullmastiff | Giant | 5,000 | 10,000 | 7,500 |
| Kangal | Giant | 5,000 | 9,000 | 7,000 |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | Giant | 5,000 | 9,000 | 7,000 |
| Dogo Argentino | Giant | 4,500 | 9,000 | 6,750 |
| Cane Corso | Giant | 4,500 | 9,000 | 6,750 |
| Rottweiler | Giant | 4,000 | 9,000 | 6,500 |
| Alaskan Malamute | Large | 4,000 | 8,000 | 6,000 |
| Doberman | Large | 3,500 | 7,500 | 5,500 |
| German Shepherd | Large | 3,000 | 7,000 | 5,000 |
| Golden Retriever | Large | 3,000 | 6,500 | 4,750 |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | Large | 3,000 | 6,500 | 4,750 |
| Belgian Malinois | Large | 3,000 | 6,500 | 4,750 |
| Bull Terrier | Large | 3,000 | 6,000 | 4,500 |
| Boxer | Large | 3,000 | 6,000 | 4,500 |
| Siberian Husky | Medium | 3,000 | 6,000 | 4,500 |
| Samoyed | Medium | 3,000 | 6,000 | 4,500 |
| Labrador Retriever | Large | 2,500 | 6,000 | 4,250 |
| Australian Shepherd | Medium | 2,500 | 5,500 | 4,000 |
| Pit Bull | Medium | 2,500 | 5,000 | 3,750 |
| Dalmatian | Large | 2,500 | 5,000 | 3,750 |
| English Bulldog | Medium | 2,500 | 5,000 | 3,750 |
| Chow Chow | Large | 2,500 | 5,000 | 3,750 |
| Rampur Greyhound | Large | 2,000 | 4,500 | 3,250 |
| Rajapalayam | Large | 2,000 | 4,500 | 3,250 |
| Border Collie | Medium | 2,000 | 4,500 | 3,250 |
| Cocker Spaniel | Medium | 2,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 |
| Mudhol Hound | Medium | 2,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 |
| Kombai | Large | 2,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 |
| Beagle | Medium | 1,800 | 4,000 | 2,900 |
| Poodle | Medium | 1,000 | 4,500 | 2,750 |
| Indian Pariah Dog | Medium | 1,500 | 3,500 | 2,500 |
| Shiba Inu | Small | 1,500 | 3,000 | 2,250 |
| Kanni | Medium | 1,500 | 3,000 | 2,250 |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Medium | 1,500 | 3,000 | 2,250 |
| Chippiparai | Medium | 1,500 | 3,000 | 2,250 |
| French Bulldog | Medium | 1,500 | 3,000 | 2,250 |
| American Eskimo Dog | Small | 1,000 | 3,000 | 2,000 |
| Dachshund | Small | 1,200 | 2,800 | 2,000 |
| Pug | Small | 1,200 | 2,500 | 1,850 |
| Indian Spitz | Medium | 1,200 | 2,500 | 1,850 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Small | 1,200 | 2,500 | 1,850 |
| Shih Tzu | Small | 1,000 | 2,200 | 1,600 |
| Lhasa Apso | Small | 1,000 | 2,200 | 1,600 |
| German Spitz | Small | 1,000 | 2,200 | 1,600 |
| Japanese Spitz | Small | 1,000 | 2,200 | 1,600 |
| Bichon Frise | Small | 900 | 2,000 | 1,450 |
| Jack Russell Terrier | Small | 900 | 2,000 | 1,450 |
| Pomeranian | Small | 800 | 1,800 | 1,300 |
| Pekingese | Small | 800 | 1,800 | 1,300 |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Small | 700 | 1,600 | 1,150 |
| Maltese | Small | 700 | 1,600 | 1,150 |
| Miniature Pinscher | Small | 700 | 1,500 | 1,100 |
| Chihuahua | Small | 600 | 1,500 | 1,050 |
These ranges assume a mix of packaged and home food at metro prices. For the full monthly bill, including vets and grooming, see our cost of owning a dog by size report.
Brands and where people buy
Drools is the largest Indian brand. Its revenue from operations rose 50% to Rs 714.90 crore in FY24, from Rs 474.62 crore in FY23, according to filings reported by Entrackr. Its CEO claimed a domestic share of around 40% in 2026.
Drools turned from a Rs 27.65 crore profit in FY23 to a Rs 14 crore loss in FY24 while it expanded. Nestle took a minority stake in the company in 2025, Entrackr reported.
Estimates of online sales differ. Ken Research says e-commerce was 31.6% of retail value in 2025, behind pet shops and superstores at 42.6%. The Drools CEO said online was approaching 50% of pet food sales in 2026.
| Source | Year | Online share (%) | Pet shops and superstores (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Research | 2025 | 31.6 | 42.6 |
| Drools CEO, GlobalPETS interview | 2026 | Approaching 50 | Not stated |
| Drools CEO, pre-pandemic | Before 2020 | About 10 | Not stated |
| Redseer (all pet care spend) | FY24 | Under 10 | Not stated |
The gap between 31.6% and 50% is partly definition. Ken Research measures retail value across all pet food. The Drools figure is one company's view, likely shaped by its own sales mix.
Frequently asked questions
How many pet dogs are there in India?
Estimates range from about 2.6 crore to 3.7 crore for 2024. Euromonitor's 3.68 crore is the highest published figure. There is no government census of pet dogs, so every number is a private estimate.
How big is the Indian pet food market?
Most current estimates fall between USD 680 million and USD 900 million a year, roughly Rs 6,000 crore to Rs 8,000 crore. Ken Research says USD 770 million for 2025. Credence Research says USD 872 million for 2024.
What percentage of Indian dogs eat packaged food?
Industry estimates put it at 7 to 10% of pets. The Drools CEO said 7 to 8% in 2026. Most Indian dogs still eat home-cooked food from the family kitchen.
How much dog food does India import?
India imported Rs 1,140 crore of packaged dog and cat food in 2024-25, about 56 million kg. Thailand supplied 62% of it. The data comes from the Ministry of Commerce's TradeStat database.
Is India a pet food exporter too?
Yes. India exported Rs 628 crore of dog and cat food in 2024-25, with Germany the largest buyer. Imports were still Rs 512 crore higher than exports that year.
Which city in India has the most registered pet dogs?
Chennai has the most licences on record, at 73,754 by February 2026 after a mandatory licensing drive. Delhi's MCD had only 5,767 registered pet dogs in August 2025. Registration counts reflect enforcement, not real ownership.
How much does it cost to feed a dog in India per month?
Across the 58 breeds in our guides, the median is Rs 3,250 a month. Small dogs average about Rs 1,600 and giant breeds about Rs 7,500. Home-cooked diets can cost less.
Is pet ownership growing in India?
Yes. Ken Research estimates the pet population grew from 2.84 crore in 2020 to 3.92 crore in 2025. A 2024 Mars survey found 69% of Indian pet owners were first-time owners.
Methodology and limitations
Trade figures come from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's TradeStat EIDB database, queried in October 2026. We used the commodity-wise all countries report for HS code 23091000, dog or cat food put up for retail sale. Values are in Rs crore and USD million as published. Quantities are in kg, converted to tonnes by dogeats.in.
Pet population and market size figures are third-party estimates from market research firms, company executives and news reports. We report each with its source and year and do not average them. Where we derived a figure, such as Ken Research's implied dog count, we say so.
Food cost figures are compiled by dogeats.in from breeder, retailer and owner sources for our breed guides, October 2026. Each breed has a monthly low and high. We use the midpoint and group breeds by the midpoint of their adult weight range.
Sources
- TradeStat EIDB, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Import and export values, quantities and source countries for HS 23091000, 2017-18 to 2024-25
- Redseer Strategy Consultants, From Kibble to Care (October 2024), 3.2 crore pets in FY24, USD 3.6 billion pet care spend, pets per household
- afaqs (May 2022), Mars Petcare India MD on Rs 4,000 crore market; Supertails on penetration and home-food spend
- Also consulted: GlobalPETS, The pet industry in India (April 2025), GlobalPETS interview with Drools CEO (July 2026), Ken Research, India Pet Food Market, Credence Research, India Pet Food Market, Tetra Pak India release (April 2026), Entrackr (May 2025), Business Standard, PTI (May 2024), The Tribune, Mars and Ipsos study release (December 2024), National Herald (February 2026), The Daily Guardian (August 2025), The Week, PTI (August 2025), The Hitavada (June 2026), Onmanorama, IANS report on Bengaluru pet licensing (November 2021), Global Pet Industry, India cat and dog food imports (October 2024), dogeats.in breed guides, October 2026.
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