Animal rights by country or territory

This article is about current animal rights around the world. For the philosophy of animal rights, see Animal rights. For the timeline of animal rights, see Timeline of animal welfare and rights.

Animal rights vary greatly among countries and territories. Such laws range from the legal recognition of non-human animal sentience to the absolute lack of any anti-cruelty laws, with no regard for animal welfare.

Worldwide laws on the official recognition of non-human animal sentience and suffering. Blue: National recognition of animal sensation. Green: Partial recognition of animal sensation¹. Yellow: National recognition of animal suffering. Orange: Partial recognition of animal suffering². Red: No official recognition of animal sensation or suffering. Gray: Unknown.
¹ Some animals excluded, only mental health accepted and/or laws internally variable. ² Only includes domestic animals.

Overview

As of November 2019, 32 countries have formally recognized non-human animal sentience. These are: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.^{[citation needed]}

The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) is a proposed global initiative designed to acknowledge animal sentience, prevent cruelty, minimize suffering, and establish welfare standards for animals. It applies to various categories, including farm animals, pets, animals used in scientific research, working animals, wildlife, and those involved in recreational activities.^[1]

The Great Ape Project is currently campaigning to have the United Nations endorse a World Declaration on Great Apes, which would extend to non-human great apes the protection of three basic interests: the right to life, the protection of individual liberty, and the prohibition of torture.^{[citation needed]} Six countries currently ban the use of great apes for scientific research, and Austria is the only country in the world to ban experiments on lesser apes.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, Bolivia became the first country to banish animal abuse and harm in circuses.^[2] The United States of America is the only country in the world that has banned killing horses for consumption,^{[citation needed]} and India have banned killing cows for consumption in some of its states.^{[citation needed]}

Cow is the national animal of Nepal, and cow slaughter is a punishable offense as per the prevailing law.

In 2014, the Jain pilgrimage destination of Palitana City in Indian state of Gujarat became the first city in the world to be legally vegetarian. It has banned buying and selling meat, fish, and eggs, as well as related jobs, such as fishing and animal farming.^[3][4][5][6]

Global animal rights maps

Food production

World laws on battery cages
World laws on battery cages    Nationwide ban on battery cages    Some subnational bans on battery cages    Nationwide phaseout of battery cages in progress    Battery cages legal    No data

World laws on beak trimming
v t e World laws on beak trimming    Nationwide ban on beak trimming    Some subnational bans on beak trimming    Beak trimming legal    No data

World laws on chick culling
v t e World laws on chick culling    Ban on all chick culling    Grinding chicks illegal, gassing chicks legal    Planned ban on all chick culling    Chick culling legal, no ban planned    No data

World laws on foie gras production
v t e World laws on foie gras production    Countries and regions that ban foie gras production    Main foie gras-producing countries and regions[7][8][9]

World laws on stunning animals during ritual slaughter
v t e World laws on stunning animals during ritual slaughter    Stunning not required    Post-cut stunning required    Simultaneous stunning required    Pre-cut stunning required    Ritual slaughter banned    No data

Legal status of whaling
v t e Legal status of whaling    IWC states that ban whaling (since 1986)    IWC states with aboriginal whaling    IWC states with commercial whaling    Non-IWC states with aboriginal whaling    Non-IWC states with commercial whaling    Non-IWC states without whaling

Clothing and cosmetics

World laws on cosmetic animal testing
v t e Worldwide laws regarding testing cosmetics on animals    Nationwide ban on all cosmetic testing on animals    Partial ban on cosmetic testing on animals1    Ban on the sale of cosmetics tested on animals    No ban on any cosmetic testing on animals    Unknown 1some methods of testing are excluded from the ban or the laws vary within the country

Entertainment

World laws on bullfighting
v t e World laws on bullfighting    Nationwide ban on bullfighting    Nationwide ban on bullfighting, but some designated local traditions exempted    Some subnational bans on bullfighting    Bullfighting without killing bulls in the ring legal (Portuguese style or 'bloodless')    Bullfighting with killing bulls in the ring legal (Spanish style)    No data

World laws on cockfighting
v t e World laws on cockfighting    Nationwide ban on cockfighting    Nationwide ban on cockfighting, but some designated local traditions exempted    Some subnational bans on cockfighting    Cockfighting legal    No data

World laws on dog fighting
v t e World laws on dog fighting    Nationwide ban on dog fighting    Some subnational bans on dog fighting    Dog fighting legal    No data

World laws on dolphinariums / marine mammal captivity

v t e World laws on dolphinariums / marine mammal captivity    Nationwide ban on dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity    De facto nationwide ban on dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity due to strict regulations    Some subnational bans on dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity    Dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity are currently being phased out ahead of a nationwide ban    Dolphinariums/marine mammal captivity legal    No data

Laws banning the use of animals in circuses
v t e Worldwide laws on animal use in circuses[10]    Nationwide ban    Partial ban[a]    Ban on import/export    No ban    Unknown certain animals are excluded or the laws vary internally

World laws on goose pulling
v t e World laws on goose pulling    Goose pulling discontinued; live goose pulling until 20th century    Dead goose pulling; live goose pulling banned in 20th century    Dummy and dead goose pulling; local bans on dead goose pulling in 21st century    Dummy goose pulling; live goose pulling banned in 20th century, dead goose pulling banned in 2019    No data

Council of Europe convention maps

See also: List of international animal welfare conventions

European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (1968 & 2003)

v t e European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (1968 original)    Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states)    Denounced in favour of 2003 revised convention v t e European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (2003 revision)    Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states)

European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (1976)
v t e European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes    Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states)

European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter (1979)
v t e European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter    Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states)

Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979)
v t e Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats    Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states)

European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (1986)
v t e European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes    Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states)

European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (1987)
v t e European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals    Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states)

Principal laws on animal rights

General Legislation

Country	Recognition of animal sentience	Recognition of animal suffering	Anti-cruelty laws meet OIE standards[11]	Any laws against animal cruelty	Support at the United Nations [a]
Algeria[12][13]	No	No	No	Yes -unenforced	No
Angola[14]	No	No	No	No	No
Argentina[15]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Australia[16]	Yes	Yes	Partial - varies internally	Yes	No
Austria[17]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial - support from various internal departments
Azerbaijan[18]	No	No	No	No	No
Belarus[19]	No	No	No	No	No
Belgium[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Bosnia and Herzegovina[22]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Botswana[14]	No	No	No	Yes	No
Brazil[23]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bulgaria[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Cambodia[24][25]	No	No	No	No	Yes
Canada[26]	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Chile[27]	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
China[28]	No	No	No	No	No
Colombia[29]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Costa Rica[30][31]	No	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Yes
Croatia[21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	No
Cyprus[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Czech Republic[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Democratic Republic of Congo[14]	No	No	No	No	No
Denmark[32]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Food
Egypt[33][34][35]	No	Yes	No	Yes -unenforced	No
Eritrea[36]	No	No	No	No	No
Estonia[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Ethiopia[37]	No	No	No	Yes	No
Fiji[38][39]	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Finland[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
France[40]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Germany[41]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Greece[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Food
Hong Kong[42][43]	No	Yes	No	Yes	— (China responsible for foreign affairs)
Hungary[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
India[44]	No	Yes	No	Yes	Partial - support from the Animal Welfare Board
Indonesia[45]	Partial - mental health recognized	Yes	No	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Iran[46]	No	No	No	No	No
Ireland[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Italy[47]	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Japan[48]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Kazakhstan[49]	No	No	No	Yes	No
Kenya[50]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Latvia[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Lebanon[51][52]	Partial	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Lesotho[14]	No	No	No	Yes -unenforced	No
Lithuania[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Luxembourg[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Madagascar[14]	No	No	No	No	No
Malawi[14]	No	Yes	No	Yes - unenforced	No
Malaysia[53]	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Mali[54]	No	No	No	Yes	No
Malta[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Resources
Mauritius[14][55]	No	No	No	Yes	No
Mexico[56]	Partial - varies internally	Yes	No	Yes	No
Mongolia[57]	No	No	No	No	No
Morocco[58][59]	No	Yes	No	Yes -unenforced	No
Mozambique[14]	No	No	No	No	No
Myanmar[60]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Namibia[14]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
New Zealand[61]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Netherlands[62]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Niger[63]	No	Partial - domesticated animals only	No	Yes	No
North Korea[64]	No	No	No	Yes	No
Norway[65]	Partial - mental health recognized	Yes	No	Yes	No
Pakistan[66]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Paraguay[67]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Peru[68]	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Philippines[69][70]	Partial - mental health recognized	Yes	No	Yes	Partial - support from various internal departments
Poland[71]	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Portugal[20][21]	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Romania[72]	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Russia[73]	No	No	No	Yes	No
Saudi Arabia[74]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Seychelles[14][75]	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Singapore[20][21]	No	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Unknown
Slovakia[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Slovenia[20][21]	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
South Africa[76]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
South Korea[77]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Spain[78]	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Swaziland[14]	No	Yes	No	Yes -unenforced	No
Sweden[79]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Switzerland[80]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tanzania[81]	Partial - some animals excluded	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Thailand[82]	No	Yes	No	Yes	Partial - support from various internal departments
Turkey[83]	Partial - mental health recognized	Yes	No	Yes	No
Ukraine[84]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
United Kingdom[85]	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial - support from various internal departments
United States[86]	Partial - varies internally	Yes	Partial - varies internally	Yes	Partial - support from various internal departments
Uruguay[87]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Venezuela[88]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Vietnam[89]	No	No	No	No	No
Zambia[14]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Zimbabwe[14]	No	Yes	No	Yes	No

See also

• Human rights
• List of animal rights advocates
• List of international animal welfare conventions
• Overview of discretionary invasive procedures on animals

Notes

1. These countries have pledged to support the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare