● 5.1. Estimated Number of Animal Deaths from Abuse:
Obtaining comprehensive global statistics on animal deaths resulting from abuse is a significant challenge.122 However, it is estimated that in the United States alone, approximately 10 million animals die each year from abuse or neglect.46 Some sources suggest that globally, at least one animal is abused every minute.87 The lack of reliable global statistics highlights the hidden nature of this problem and the difficulties in data collection.94 The absence of comprehensive global data on animal deaths due to abuse underscores the pressing need for the development and implementation of improved data collection and reporting systems in this area. The US estimate of 10 million deaths annually provides a stark indication of the significant scale of the problem within one country, suggesting that the global issue is likely to be considerably larger. Animal abuse often goes undetected and unreported due to various factors, including fear of reprisal, a lack of public awareness, or the inadequacy of existing legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms. Increased public awareness and more effective reporting mechanisms could lead to a higher number of recorded cases, although this might reflect improved data rather than necessarily an actual increase in the incidence of abuse. Public education initiatives and the enactment of stronger legal protections for animals are crucial steps in effectively addressing this issue. The widespread abuse and death of animals raise profound ethical concerns regarding animal welfare and the moral responsibility of humans in their treatment of sentient beings.95 Furthermore, research suggests a potential link between animal abuse and violence against humans, indicating that animal cruelty can sometimes be a precursor to or occur in conjunction with violence directed towards people.
● 5.2. Estimated Number of Animals Killed by Hunting:
Similar to animal abuse, there is no readily available and reliable global statistic for the total number of animals killed by hunting each year.120 However, available data indicates that in the United States alone, hunters kill over 200 million animals annually.78 Obtaining even fragmented data from other regions of the world would be valuable for forming a more complete understanding of the global scale of animal mortality related to hunting. The lack of comprehensive global statistics on the number of animals killed by hunting, much like the data on animal abuse, points to a significant gap in our understanding of the overall extent of human-caused animal mortality from these activities. The US figure of over 200 million animals killed annually by hunters suggests that a substantial number of animals are killed for purposes such as sport, recreation, or wildlife population management. However, hunting practices, regulations, and cultural norms vary considerably across different countries and regions, making the aggregation of global statistics a complex undertaking. Hunting regulations, wildlife management policies implemented by governments, and prevailing cultural practices all significantly influence the number of animals killed through hunting in different parts of the world. Factors such as designated hunting seasons, established bag limits for specific species, and the legal protection afforded to certain species all play a crucial role in determining hunting mortality rates. The scale of hunting activities can have significant ecological consequences, potentially impacting wildlife populations, biodiversity, and the delicate balance of ecosystems.107 Therefore, striking a balance between human interests in hunting and the imperatives of wildlife conservation is a critical consideration for sustainable environmental management.
● 5.3. Statistics on Farm Animal Slaughter:
This section presents detailed statistics on the number of farm animals slaughtered globally for meat production. The primary data source is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as well as analyses of this data by organizations such as Faunalytics and Our World in Data.90 The latest available complete data is for 2022. In 2022, approximately 82.6 billion land animals were slaughtered worldwide.90 This figure does not include fish and other aquatic animals.
The breakdown by major animal categories is as follows 54:
○ Chickens: Approximately 73.8 billion per year (around 202 million per day).101
○ Pigs: Approximately 1.4 billion per year (around 3.8 million per day).101
○ Ducks: Approximately 4.3 billion per year (around 11.8 million per day).101
○ Sheep: Approximately 617 million per year (around 1.7 million per day).101
○ Cattle: Approximately 332 million per year (around 909,000 per day).101
○ Fish (farmed): Estimates vary significantly, but one average estimate for 2019 is around 77 billion per year (around 211 million per day).90 Another study estimates the number of farmed fish in 2023 to be approximately 124 billion.92
○ Wild-caught fish: Estimates are extremely uncertain but likely in the trillions per year (billions per day).54
The sheer magnitude of farm animal slaughter for food production significantly overshadows the mortality rates observed in other categories discussed in this report, highlighting the immense impact of human dietary choices on animal lives, with chickens accounting for the vast majority of land animals slaughtered. This reflects prevailing global dietary patterns and the efficiency of modern industrial agricultural practices in producing poultry. The high numbers of farm animals slaughtered annually are directly driven by increasing global population figures and the corresponding demand for meat and animal products.90 This direct relationship underscores how human consumption patterns directly lead to the raising and subsequent killing of these animals. The immense scale of farm animal slaughter raises substantial ethical considerations regarding animal welfare, as well as significant environmental concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions, land utilization for feed production and grazing, and broader public health implications.101 Issues pertaining to the humane treatment of animals raised for food, the environmental sustainability of meat production, and the potential health impacts of high meat consumption are all interconnected with the sheer volume of animals slaughtered annually.
● 5.4. Average Monthly and Daily Rates for Each Category of Animal Killings:
○ Animal Abuse (Estimate - USA): Approximately 833,333 monthly and 27,397 daily deaths.
○ Hunting (Estimate - USA): Approximately 16,666,667 monthly and 547,945 daily deaths.
○ Farm Animal Slaughter - Total (Land Animals): Approximately 6,885,391,232 monthly and 226,371,766 daily deaths.
○ Farm Animal Slaughter - Chickens: Approximately 6,150,000,000 monthly and 201,917,808 daily deaths.
○ Farm Animal Slaughter - Pigs: Approximately 116,666,667 monthly and 383,562,055 daily deaths.
○ Farm Animal Slaughter - Ducks: Approximately 358,333,333 monthly and 1,178,082,192 daily deaths.
○ Farm Animal Slaughter - Sheep: Approximately 51,416,667 monthly and 168,941,507 daily deaths.
○ Farm Animal Slaughter - Cattle: Approximately 27,666,667 monthly and 908,219,178 daily deaths.
○ Farm Animal Slaughter - Fish (Farmed, Estimate): Approximately 6,416,666,667 monthly and 210,958,904 daily deaths (based on 2019 data).
○ Farm Animal Slaughter - Fish (Wild-caught, Estimate): Billions monthly and billions daily.
● 5.5. Data Sources for Animal Killings:
The primary data sources for this section are the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) 56, Faunalytics (analysis of FAO data) 88, Our World in Data (analysis of FAO data) 56, Shelter Animals Count (data on animal abuse and shelters in the USA) 46, Humane World for Animals (various statistics) 80, Sentient Media (analysis of animal slaughter) 54, IDAUSA (hunting statistics in the USA) 78, and Animal Clock (animal mortality statistics in the USA).91 The diverse range of sources providing data on animal killings indicates that this information originates from a combination of official statistical bodies like the FAO and various advocacy and research organizations focused on animal welfare and conservation. This mix of sources can lead to variations in data collection methodologies and the specific focus of the data gathered. While FAO data offers the most comprehensive global statistics on farm animal slaughter, other organizations often concentrate on specific regions or categories of animal mortality, such as animal abuse within the United States. Combining data from these different sources can contribute to a more complete understanding of the overall picture of animal mortality caused by human activities, although it is important to acknowledge potential inconsistencies or differences in scope across these sources. The availability of data from these organizations enables researchers, policymakers, and animal welfare advocates to analyze trends in animal mortality and to inform and support efforts aimed at improving animal welfare and promoting conservation.