Stray Animals in India 2025: State-Wise Population Insights
In 2025, India may have 204 lakh stray animals, primarily dogs, due to waste, abandonment, and insufficient sterilization efforts.
| Rank | State/UT | Estimated Population (2025, Lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 25.6 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 17.4 |
| 3 | Bihar | 13.2 |
| 4 | West Bengal | 11.5 |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | 11.0 |
| 6 | Rajasthan | 10.5 |
| 7 | Karnataka | 9.5 |
| 8 | Tamil Nadu | 8.5 |
| 9 | Gujarat | 8.0 |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 7.5 |
| 11 | Odisha | 7.0 |
| 12 | Telangana | 6.5 |
| 13 | Kerala | 6.0 |
| 14 | Punjab | 5.5 |
| 15 | Haryana | 5.0 |
| 16 | Jharkhand | 4.5 |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | 4.0 |
| 18 | Assam | 3.5 |
| 19 | Delhi | 3.0 |
| 20 | Uttarakhand | 2.5 |
| 21 | Himachal Pradesh | 2.0 |
| 22 | Jammu & Kashmir | 1.8 |
| 23 | Tripura | 1.2 |
| 24 | Manipur | 1.0 |
| 25 | Meghalaya | 0.8 |
| 26 | Nagaland | 0.6 |
| 27 | Mizoram | 0.5 |
| 28 | Arunachal Pradesh | 0.4 |
| 29 | Sikkim | 0.3 |
| 30 | Goa | 0.2 |
| 31 | Puducherry | 0.2 |
| 32 | Chandigarh | 0.1 |
| 33 | Andaman & Nicobar | 0.1 |
| 34 | DNH & DD | 0.1 |
| 35 | Ladakh | 0.05 |
| 36 | Lakshadweep | 0.02 |
Stray animals in India in 2025 encompass dogs, cattle, goats, and various other livestock that wander through streets, fields, and urban areas, posing safety hazards and causing damage to crops.
These animals frequently suffer from hunger and contribute to accidents.
This article examines the estimated stray animal populations across India’s 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs) for 2025, detailing the figures, exploring the reasons behind the higher numbers in certain states, and investigating the underlying causes.
The estimates are derived from the 2019 Livestock Census, reports from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), and preliminary trends for 2025, as comprehensive census data for that year will not be available until 2026.
The estimate for 2025 indicates approximately 204 lakh (20.4 million) stray animals across the country, reflecting a 2% increase from the 200 lakh recorded in 2019.
Uttar Pradesh ranks first with 25.6 lakh strays, followed by Maharashtra with 17.4 lakh, Bihar with 13.2 lakh, and West Bengal with 11.5 lakh.
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan follow closely with 11.0 lakh and 10.5 lakh, respectively.
Tamil Nadu reports 8.5 lakh strays, while smaller UTs such as Lakshadweep (0.02 lakh) and Ladakh (0.05 lakh) have negligible numbers.
According to AWBI, stray dogs constitute 75% (153 lakh) of the total, cattle account for 20% (40 lakh), and other animals make up the remaining 5%.
The high number of strays in Uttar Pradesh correlates with its substantial human population and the prevalence of food waste.
What accounts for the significant number of strays in Uttar Pradesh compared to the minimal presence in smaller UTs? Let us analyze the situation.
Reasons for the Disparity in Stray Populations Among States
Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra
Uttar Pradesh is home to 25.6 lakh strays, stemming from its population of 230 million, which generates substantial food waste daily.
Cities such as Lucknow and Kanpur support 2.06 million stray dogs, as per the 2019 census, with 60% relying on refuse for sustenance.
Additionally, rural regions contribute 5 lakh stray cattle that are abandoned once milking ceases.
In Maharashtra, 17.4 lakh strays flourish in the slums of Mumbai, where 1.2 crore residents dispose of waste.
The urban expansion has led to an increase in the state’s 1.28 million stray dogs recorded in 2019.
Bihar and West Bengal
Bihar has 13.2 lakh strays, comprising 10 lakh dogs and 3 lakh cattle.
Farmers tend to release older cows, which contributes to a 20% annual increase in strays, according to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
In West Bengal, 11.5 lakh strays are distributed across rural areas, with 70% of dogs scavenging at fish markets in Kolkata.
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
Madhya Pradesh accounts for 11.0 lakh strays, including 8 lakh cattle resulting from shifts in dairy practices, as farmers often sell male cattle and abandon them.
Rajasthan has 10.5 lakh strays, with 7 lakh cattle wandering the deserts, where 50% are ownerless due to drought conditions.
Southern States
Tamil Nadu’s stray population of 8.5 lakh is comparatively lower, attributed to proactive sterilization efforts, which cover 40% of dogs in Chennai, as reported by the AWBI in 2024.
Kerala, with 6.0 lakh strays, benefits from community feeding initiatives that help mitigate breeding.
Smaller Union Territories
The stray populations in Lakshadweep (0.02 lakh) and Ladakh (0.05 lakh) are a result of limited land and stringent import regulations.
In hilly Sikkim (0.3 lakh), the cold climate and minimal waste contribute to a lower number of strays.
What Factors Contribute to the Increase of Stray Animals?
Several elements account for the overall numbers and variations across states.
Abandoned Livestock
In 2019, India had 5.3 million stray cattle, a figure that has risen as dairy farms abandon non-milking cows, adding 100,000 annually, according to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
Uttar Pradesh accounts for 30% of this total.
Unsterilized Dogs
According to AWBI 2024, only 20% of stray dogs are sterilized, allowing their populations to grow by 2% each year.
In Maharashtra, urban areas manage to sterilize 30% of strays, while rural Bihar only achieves a rate of 10%.
Food Availability
The 2019 census indicates that urban waste provides sustenance for 70% of stray dogs.
In Delhi, approximately 300,000 strays reside near markets that discard 500 tonnes of food daily.
Weak Enforcement
Animal Birth Control regulations are enforced in only 50% of urban regions, leaving significant gaps in rural areas.
In Rajasthan, the population of 1.05 million strays continues to grow with only 15% enforcement of these regulations.
Are These Figures Trustworthy?
The estimate of 20.4 million is based on the 2019 census figure of 20 million, adjusted for a 2% growth rate from AWBI data.
There may be an undercount in rural areas (15-20%), potentially concealing a larger population, but urban statistics from cities like Mumbai and Lucknow are closely aligned.
The complete census in 2025 could result in an adjustment of ±10%.
What Measures Can India Take to Decrease the Stray Population?
India must implement broader sterilization efforts, aiming to reach 50% of dogs by 2026, as evidenced by Tamil Nadu’s program which successfully reduced strays by 15%.
In 2024, shelters in Maharashtra accommodated 50,000 animals. Additionally, subsidies for farmers caring for cattle have led to a 10% reduction in abandonment rates in Punjab.
Source
- Animal Welfare Board of India. (2024). Annual report 2023-24: Stray animal population and animal birth control programs. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. (2019). 20th Livestock Census 2019: All India report. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
