Rabbit Ownership Statistics USA
Rabbits are the third most popular companion mammal in the United States after dogs and cats, according to the House Rabbit Society — yet they remain one of the least-studied pets in national ownership surveys.
Key Statistics
About 1 million U.S. households owned a pet rabbit per AVMA's 2024 data.
Rabbits are the third most popular companion mammal after dogs and cats.
Share of pet rabbits adopted from a shelter or rescue (2013–2014 data).
More than three-quarters of shelter rabbit intake came from owner surrenders (regional MA/RI study).
Share of shelter rabbits that left alive, in the same regional study.
Most recent total population estimate, across ~1.5 million households.
Statistics Summary
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
|
US Households Owning a Rabbit
About 1 million U.S. households owned a pet rabbit per AVMA's 2024 data. |
0.7% |
|
Popularity Rank
Rabbits are the third most popular companion mammal after dogs and cats. |
3rd |
|
Rabbits Adopted, Not Purchased
Share of pet rabbits adopted from a shelter or rescue (2013–2014 data). |
25% |
|
Shelter Intake From Surrender
More than three-quarters of shelter rabbit intake came from owner surrenders (regional MA/RI study). |
75%+ |
|
Shelter Live-Release Rate
Share of shelter rabbits that left alive, in the same regional study. |
75.5% |
|
Total US Pet Rabbits (2022)
Most recent total population estimate, across ~1.5 million households. |
2.2M |
How Many Pet Rabbits Are There in the U.S.?
The most recent household ownership figure, drawn from AVMA's 2024 pet demographics data as compiled by the House Rabbit Society, puts rabbit-owning households at about 0.7% of all U.S. households — roughly one million homes. The last confirmed total-population estimate is older: 2.2 million pet rabbits across about 1.5 million households (1.2%) in 2022. Longer-term tracking shows rabbit ownership has actually declined from a mid-2000s to 2010 peak of roughly 6–6.6 million rabbits across 1.9–2.2 million households, even as rabbit advocacy groups report renewed interest from younger, first-time owners.
For the broader national picture across all pet species, see our pet ownership statistics page.
Rabbits are also among the animals affected by the shelter surrender trends covered in our animal shelter & rescue statistics page.
Detailed Statistics
| Statistic | Value | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbit-owning households (2024) | 0.7% | Approximately 1 million U.S. households, per AVMA data. |
AVMA (compiled by House Rabbit Society)
May 1, 2025 |
| Rabbit-owning households (2022) | 1.2% | 1.5 million U.S. households, per AVMA data. |
AVMA (compiled by House Rabbit Society)
May 1, 2025 |
| Total pet rabbits (2022) | 2.2M | Most recent confirmed total U.S. pet rabbit population estimate. |
House Rabbit Society
May 1, 2025 |
| Total pet rabbits (2010, historical peak) | 6.6M | Across ~1.9 million households (1.62%) — for comparison against 2022 levels. |
House Rabbit Society
May 1, 2025 |
| Popularity rank among companion mammals | 3rd | Behind only dogs and cats. |
House Rabbit Society
May 1, 2025 |
| Pet rabbits adopted from shelter/rescue | 25% | Based on 2013–2014 survey data — the most recent breakdown available. |
House Rabbit Society
May 1, 2025 |
| Pet rabbits purchased from pet stores | 14% | Down 42% from 2011–2012 levels (2013–2014 data). |
House Rabbit Society
May 1, 2025 |
| Shelter rabbit intake from owner surrender | 75%+ | Regional study of 4 shelters in Massachusetts & Rhode Island — not nationally representative. |
Faunalytics / IAABC Foundation Journal
Feb 27, 2013 |
| Shelter rabbit live-release rate | 75.54% | Same regional MA/RI study. |
Faunalytics / IAABC Foundation Journal
Feb 27, 2013 |
| Shelter rabbit adoption rate | 50%+ | Over half of intake rabbits were ultimately adopted, in the same regional study. |
Faunalytics / IAABC Foundation Journal
Feb 27, 2013 |
| Unaltered rate among surrendered rabbits | 81% | From a 2012 MA/RI shelter dataset, as cited by Humane World for Animals. | Humane World for Animals (formerly HSUS) |
Sources
- House Rabbit Society — "How Many Pet Rabbits Are There in the USA?" (2025) — Household ownership percentages and historical population trend, compiling AVMA data over time
- AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook (2024) — Original source of household ownership figures, republished by House Rabbit Society
- APPA 2024 Bird, Small Animal & Horse Owner Insight Report (Dec 17, 2024) — Confirms rabbits as the most popular small-animal species; no rabbit-specific counts published
-
Peer-reviewed analysis of 4 shelters in Massachusetts & Rhode Island
Faunalytics / IAABC Foundation Journal — "Quantifying the Shelter Rabbit Population" (Feb 27, 2013) — Regional study — not nationally representative; only dedicated shelter-rabbit dataset found - Humane World for Animals — Easter Rabbit Surrender Fact Check (Undated; references a 2012 MA/RI study and a 2024 British Columbia study) — Organization rebranded from Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in 2024
The Big Picture
Rabbits remain a distant third to dogs and cats in U.S. pet ownership, and unlike dogs and cats, there's no single authoritative national rabbit census. The numbers on this page are pieced together from AVMA's broader pet demographics survey, APPA's small-animal category research, House Rabbit Society's long-term tracking, and a handful of regional shelter studies. What the data consistently shows is a species with a disproportionately high surrender rate relative to its ownership numbers — which is why rabbit welfare groups continue to push hard on adoption and owner-education campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Data Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled from publicly available reports, surveys, and industry publications. PetNurture does not conduct original research and cannot guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of third-party data. Users should verify statistics directly with the original source before making decisions based on this information.
