Animals
They are someone, not something
88BLand animals killed in 2024
About 88 billion land animals were slaughtered in 2024 — about 241 million every day — and that does not even include fish. Wild fish kills are estimated at 1.1 to 2.2 trillion a year; farmed finfish add about another 130 billion. Cows use tools. Pigs do better than dogs on some problem-solving tests. Hens recognize faces and do number tasks as day-olds. Fish feel pain and some pass a mirror test. The Cambridge Declaration (2012) said humans are not unique in the neural basis of consciousness — including mammals and birds. The New York Declaration (2024) says there is at least a realistic possibility of conscious experience in all vertebrates, including fish. Enjoying the taste of something does not give us the right to kill for it. We do not have to harm or eat animals at all.
88B
Land animals slaughtered in 2024
About 241 million land animals every day — and that still leaves out fish, who make up most of the total.
Who they are
The main points first. Every claim is tied to a source below.
Someone, not something
In 2012, neuroscientists at the Francis Crick Memorial Conference declared that the weight of evidence shows humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates of consciousness — and that includes all mammals and birds. In 2024, the New York Declaration extended the point: there is at least a realistic possibility of conscious experience in all vertebrates, including fishes, and in many invertebrates. When the science says “realistic possibility,” treating them as objects is a decision, not a default.
Our World in Data · animals slaughtered for meat · FAO
Our World in Data · global meat production · FAO
Land animals are only part of the picture
Of the roughly 88 billion land animals killed in 2024, chickens made up most of it — about 78.5 billion. Then come ducks, pigs, sheep, goats, and cows. Wild-caught fish are estimated at 1.1 to 2.2 trillion a year. Farmed finfish add about another 130 billion. Open the Fish page for more.
They recognize each other — and more
Cows answer their own calf’s voice. Pigs match dogs on many cognition tests and use mirrors to find food. Hens keep track of about 100 flock-mates and show distress when their chicks are upset. Cleaner wrasse pass mirror tests. The papers live on each animal’s page. The pattern is the same: someone is looking back.
These numbers are almost certainly low
The land-animal figures come from UN FAOSTAT, compiled by Faunalytics. They are the best global numbers we have, and they are still incomplete — delayed reporting, missing countries, and almost no official count of individual fish. The real total is higher.
Sources
Papers and datasets. Caveats stay on the card — small samples and single animals included on purpose.
Faunalytics / FAO · Observational
Global animal slaughter statistics, 2024
Faunalytics, compiling UN FAOSTAT: 87,896,729,120 land animals slaughtered in 2024 — up ~1.85% from 2023, faster than human population growth.
Our World in Data · Observational
How many animals get slaughtered every day?
Our World in Data (FAO): on the order of 200 million chickens, 3.8 million pigs, and 900,000 cows every day in the year they tabulated — with explicit caveats on FAO accuracy.
Francis Crick Memorial Conference, 2012 · Review
Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness
Neuroscientists declared that the weight of evidence shows humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates of consciousness — including all mammals and birds.
NYU, 2024 · Review
New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness
Strong support for consciousness in mammals and birds, and at least a realistic possibility in all vertebrates including fishes. When that possibility exists, it is irresponsible to ignore it.
Animal Welfare, 2024 · Observational
Wild-caught fishes — 1.1 to 2.2 trillion a year
Mood & Brooke estimated 1.1–2.2 trillion wild finfishes caught annually (2000–2019 average) from FAO tonnage. Excludes illegal fishing, discards, and ghost fishing. About half went to fishmeal and oil.