Great Britain: New animal testing statistics show a decline in the number of animals used in research in 2024

The number of scientific procedures involving living animals in Great Britain fell in 2024 to its lowest level since 2001. According to the latest report from the British Government, a total of 2.64 million procedures were conducted, around 1.6 per cent fewer than in the previous year. 

With regard to the severity of the procedures, the report shows that 97% of all experiments were assessed as non-recovery, sub-threshold, mild, or moderate in severity, while the remaining 3% were classified as severe.  

The vast majority of animals used were mice, fish, rats and birds, which together accounted for 95% of all laboratory animals. Around 1 per cent of the experiments involved specially protected species such as cats, dogs, horses and non-human primates. While the number of experiments involving primates and dogs declined, there was a 30 per cent increase in the use of cats compared with 2023. 

Around half of all experimental procedures were conducted for basic research, particularly in the fields of the nervous system, immune system and oncology. A further 24 per cent were undertaken for applied research, such as the study of animal diseases and human cancers, while 22 per cent were carried out for regulatory purposes, for example safety and efficacy testing.