BERLIN – Germany is a nation of animal welfare. This is a central finding of the Humane World for Animals Animal Welfare Barometer, published for the first time today. The report is based on a current, representative survey conducted in January 2026 among more than 1,500 people in Germany by the animal protection organization Humane World for Animals (formerly called Humane Society International), which commissioned the market and social research institute Ipsos for this purpose. The Animal Welfare Barometer clearly shows that animal welfare is a value deeply rooted in German society. At the same time, the survey reveals a clear performance gap on the part of the Bundesregierung (Germany’s federal government), a so-called “government performance gap”. The Bundesregierung treats animal welfare as a niche policy – contrary to the will of the majority of citizens and even its own voter blocs.
The full Humane World for Animals Animal Welfare Barometer with all results can be viewed here; this video summarizes the most important findings, and you can also find suitable visuals, including animal images and infographics and the video here. The dedicated website contains key information (all materials in German only).
The animal welfare nation
Four out of five respondents (80.5%) state that animal welfare is (very) important to them. This includes 38.2% for whom animal welfare is “very important”1. On this question, all population groups surveyed agreed, regardless of gender, age, place of residence, income, or political preference; the mean value is similarly high.
Criticism of the political status quo is pronounced. Only 21.7% of respondents believe that the federal government is currently doing enough for animal welfare. Almost two-thirds (62.3%) expect more commitment. While voters2 of Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen (77.4%) and The Left (76.4%) parties support stronger engagement from the current CDU-led Bundesregierung, CDU/CSU voters themselves are far from satisfied. Almost half (49.4%) of this group believe that the federal government must become significantly more active in animal welfare.
“A clear mandate for the animals”
Sylvie Kremerskothen Gleason, country director at Humane World for Animals Germany: “Our Humane World for Animals Animal Welfare Barometer 2026 shows that people are far ahead of politics. Animal welfare has a firm place in the center of society and enjoys broad support, even beyond party political boundaries. There is a clear mandate for animals that our political decision-makers must take seriously if they want to reflect the will of their own voters and citizens.”
It is not about the if, but about the how
The Humane World for Animals Animal Welfare Barometer 2026 makes it clear that the debate is not about if animals should be better protected, but how consistently this is implemented politically. Seven out of ten (71.3 %) respondents support a nationwide neutering requirement for outdoor cats – a measure considered urgent and necessary in light of the millions of stray cats in Germany. This is one of the largest and at the same time least known animal welfare challenges in the country. However, there are currently no nationwide uniform regulations.
Expectations are also high when it comes to animals on farms and in the food system. Respondents call for stronger legal requirements, far-reaching reforms, and significantly more transparency. Four out of five people (81.5%) support a mandatory label on processed foods such as pasta, baked goods, or ready meals, clearly indicating which type of eggs were used – such as caged eggs, barn eggs, free-range eggs, or organic eggs. To create a more humane system of animal farming, people in Germany are also willing to accept personal inconvenience, for example in higher costs. Two thirds (66.3%) support the proposal to increase taxes on meat from farms with low animal welfare standards in Germany if the additional tax revenue is used to promote more animal-friendly farming conditions.
Clear stance on trophy hunting, fur farming, and wild animals as pets
The results are particularly clear regarding the cruel practice of trophy hunting. Germany is by far the largest importer of hunting trophies of protected animal species into the EU, globally surpassed only by the United States. Between 2015 and 2024, there were 7,151 trophies of protected species imported3. However, the majority clearly rejects this practice: 85.6% of respondents support an import ban on hunting trophies of protected species. Moreover, around 90% consistently reject canned hunting, in which wild animals are killed in enclosed areas for their trophies.
The last fur farm in Germany closed in 2019, not due to a ban but rather to stricter regulations. 79.2% of respondents consider this outcome insufficient and believe that Germany should support an EU-wide ban on the fur industry. This demand is supported by voters of all parties.
Respondents also want more political leadership when it comes to the protection of wild animals: 80.6% support a uniform EU regulation clearly defining which animal species may be kept as pets, based on whether their needs can be adequately met in a private household. The call for stronger European laws comes from voters of all parties, although particularly strongly from Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen (90.9%). However, 87.8% of CDU/CSU voters surveyed also support this statement. This result, some 7.2 percentage points above the national average, presents clear mandate for political action.
People in Germany want more humane governance for animals
Overall, the Humane World for Animals Animal Welfare Barometer shows a clear picture: people in Germany want significantly more humane systems, structures rules, and regulations for the protection of animals. The appeal to the federal government is unmistakable, both nationally and at the European level. With the upcoming “Mandate for Animals” campaign, Humane World for Animals Germany aims to reinforce this societal mandate and increase political pressure to leverage positive reform.
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Note to editors:
The full Humane World for Animals Animal Welfare Barometer provides additional interesting, and in some cases, curious insights into opinions on animal welfare. According to self-reported data, there appear to be several big cats (such as lions or tigers) as well as primates being kept in German homes. It also shows how different age groups, households with or without children, or individuals in particular federal states (“Bundeslaender”) view animal welfare.
Additional results (selection)
- According to the survey results, these animals deserve more protection: #1 Animals in labs (72.3%), #2 Animals on farms (pigs, cows, chickens) (70.9%), and #3 Animals in circus (65.5%)4.
- Nearly three-quarters (73.9%) believe that animal welfare should be part of the school curriculum.
- On average, at least one pet lives in 43.2% of households. This corresponds to approximately 17.8 million households5. More than half of respondents with pets have a cat (53.5%). Dogs live in 48.3% of German households.
- Seven out of ten participants (70.6%) support a complete phase-out of cage rearing for animals on farms (such as cows and pigs) in Germany.
- More than two-thirds (67.8%) of participants state that they support the gradual abolition of animal testing in Germany. In addition, eight of ten respondents (79.4%) support more investment in the development and acceptance of animal-free testing methods.
About the method:
The aim of the survey was to gain a deeper understanding of the wishes, needs, and opinions of people in Germany regarding the topic of animal welfare. The survey was conducted by the market and social research institute Ipsos on behalf of Humane World for Animals via an online panel survey. The population of reference is the German-speaking population aged 18 and older. A total of 1,527 people were surveyed; the sample was quota-selected and iteratively weighted to be representative of age, gender, federal state, and education level. Targets for this were taken from Eurostat 2023. The survey took place between January 15 and January 26, 2026. The questions and answers can be viewed here.
1 In contrast, only 1.7% consider animal welfare to be (very) unimportant. The remaining 17.8% responded with “neutral.”
2 The original question was: “Which party would you vote for if an election were held next Sunday?”. This was used as the basis for the definition as “voter”.
3 Humane World for Animals factsheet: Trophy hunting: import figures for Germany.
4 The response options were as follows: so-called farm animals (pigs, cows, chickens); pets (dogs, cats); wild animals (e.g. wolves); animals in labs; zoo animals; animals in circus; none of the above.
5 According to the Federal Statistical Office, there were around 41.2 million households in Germany in 2024 (latest available figures). 43.2% of this corresponds to 17,798,400. Source: https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Haushalte-Familien/_inhalt.html, accessed in February 2026.