I have gathered the statistics for the pet rabbit industry in the UK from a variety of sources. As I discover new statistics, I’ll keep adding to this page.
How many pet rabbits are there in the UK?
There are currently about 900,000 pet rabbits in the UK.
These figures are from May 2021. Source.
How have pet rabbit numbers changed over time?
| Year | Number of pet rabbits |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1,669,000 |
| 2012 | 1,700,000 |
| 2013 | 1,000,000 (no reason given for drop in numbers) |
| 2014 | 1,300,000 (no reason given for increase in numbers) |
| 2015 | 1,200,000 |
| 2016 | 1,500,000 |
| 2017 | 1,100,000 |
| 2018 | 1,000,000 |
| 2019 | 900,000 |
| 2020 | 1,000,000 |
| 2021 | 900,000 |
It is unclear why numbers vary so much from year to year. Source.
How many adults own a pet rabbit in the UK?
2% of UK adults own a pet rabbit.
These figures are from May 2021. Source.
Where do people get their pet rabbit from?
According to the Paw Report 2021:
| Where owners get their rabbits from | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Pet shop or garden centre | 34% |
| Rescue home or rehoming centre | 19% |
| Rehomed from family, friend or neighbour | 13% |
A different methodology from 2014 (England only) gave these results:
| Where owners get their rabbits from | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Pet shop or garden centre | 39.1% |
| Rescue home or rehoming centre | 17.6% |
| Breeder | 15.8% |
| Rehomed from family, friend or neighbour | 15% |
| Advert | 4% |
| Found as stray | 2.1% |
How many rabbits live alone?
In May 2021, 48% of rabbits live alone.
This is important because rabbits are sociable animals, who usually require companionship from other rabbits.
This has changed over time. In general, there has been a decrease (which is good). But during lockdown from COVID there was an increase.
| Year | Percent of rabbits living alone |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 67% |
| 2012 | |
| 2013 | 65% |
| 2014 | |
| 2015 | 57% |
| 2016 | 52% |
| 2017 | 56% |
| 2018 | 54% |
| 2019 | 49% |
| 2020 | 42% |
| 2021 | 48% |
Why do owners only have one rabbit?
| Reason for only having one rabbit | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Previous companion has passed away | 34% |
| Don’t want to own more than one | 27% |
| Rabbit does not get on with other rabbits | 14% |
| Have never thought about getting another rabbit | 13% |
| Have not got around to getting a second rabbit | 9% |
| Can only afford one rabbit | 6% |
These figures are from May 2021. Source.
What percentage of rabbits get neutered?
63% of rabbits are neutered in the UK (May 2021). This is an increase from 57% in February 2020.
Neutering improves rabbits’ health, behaviour and life expectancy. Read here on what to expect when your rabbit is neutered (spayed).
How long do pet rabbits live on average?
Pet rabbits in England live on average for 5.6 years, with a range of 1 month to 12 years.
These figures are from 2014. Source. Note – these are England figures, not UK.
How much do pet rabbit owners spend each year?
The total spend of pet rabbit owners in the UK is about £672 million.
The average rabbit owner spends £94 per month (£1,128 per year) over the lifetime of a rabbit.
These figures are for 2018-19. Source.
Do owners keep rabbits outside or inside?
| Where do pet rabbits live? | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Outside (or mainly outside) | 59.5% |
| Inside (or mainly inside) (house rabbit) | 27.6% |
| Shed, garage or outside building | 12% |
Of the respondents, 19.5% said that the location varied with season.
These figures are for 2014. Source. These are England figures, not UK.
