This article is about current animal rights around the world. For the philosophy and history of animal rights, see Animal rights . For the timeline of animal rights, see Timeline of animal welfare and rights .
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Rights affecting non-human animals vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of non-human animal sentience to the absolute lack of any anti-cruelty laws with no regard for animal welfare .
Notably, as of November 2019 , 32 countries formally recognize non-human animal sentience , they 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.
It has been proposed that the United Nations pass the first resolution recognizing animal rights, the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare , which acknowledges the importance of the sentience of animals and human responsibilities towards them. 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. 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 .
In 2009, Bolivia became the first country to banish animal abuse and harm in circuses.[1] The United States of America is the only country in the world that has banned killing horses for consumption , and India is the only country to have banned killing cows for consumption in some of its states .
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.[2] [3] [4] [5]
Global animal rights maps [ ]
Food production
show 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
show World laws on beak trimming
World laws on beak trimming
Nationwide ban on beak trimming
Some subnational bans on beak trimming
Beak trimming legal
No data
show World laws on chick culling
World laws on chick culling
Ban on all chick culling (France and Germany from 1 January 2022)
Grinding chicks illegal, gassing chicks legal (Switzerland)
Planned ban on all chick culling by 2022 (Spain)
Planned ban on grinding chicks (currently none)
Chick culling legal, no ban planned
No data
show World laws on foie gras production
World laws on foie gras production
Countries and regions that ban foie gras production.
Main foie gras-producing countries and regions[6] [7] [8]
show World laws on stunning animals during ritual slaughter
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
show Legal status of whaling
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
show World laws on cosmetic animal testing
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
1 some methods of testing are excluded from the ban or the laws vary within the country
Entertainment
show World laws on bullfighting
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
show World laws on cockfighting
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
show World laws on dog fighting
World laws on dog fighting
Nationwide ban on dog fighting
Some subnational bans on dog fighting
Dog fighting legal
No data
show World laws on dolphinariums / marine mammal captivity
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
show Laws banning the use of animals in circuses
Worldwide laws on animal use in circuses [9]
Nationwide ban on all animal use in circuses
Partial ban on animal use in circuses1
Ban on the import/export of animals for circuses
No ban on animal use in circuses
Unknown
1 certain animals are excluded or the laws vary internally
show World laws on goose pulling
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 [ ]
show European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (1968 & 2003)
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
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
show European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (1976)
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
show European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter (1979)
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
show European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (1986)
Signed and ratified
Acceded or succeeded
Only signed
Not signed (CoE member states)
Not signed (non-CoE member states)
show European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (1987)
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
hide
Algeria [11] [12]
No
No
No
Yes -unenforced
No
Angola [13]
No
No
No
No
No
Argentina [14]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Austria [15]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Partial - support from various internal departments
Australia [16]
Yes
Yes
Partial - varies internally
Yes
No
Azerbaijan [17]
No
No
No
No
No
Belarus [18]
No
No
No
No
No
Belgium [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Bosnia and Herzegovina [21]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Botswana [13]
No
No
No
Yes
No
Brazil [22]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Bulgaria [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Cambodia [23] [24]
No
No
No
No
Yes
Canada [25]
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Chile [26]
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
China [27]
No
No
No
No
No
Colombia [28]
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Costa Rica [29] [30]
No
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Yes
Croatia [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
No
Cyprus [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Czech Republic [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Democratic Republic of Congo [13]
No
No
No
No
No
Denmark [31]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Food
Egypt [32] [33] [34]
No
Yes
No
Yes -unenforced
No
Eritrea [35]
No
No
No
No
No
Estonia [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Ethiopia [36]
No
No
No
Yes
No
Finland [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Fiji [37] [38]
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
France [39]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Germany [40]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Greece [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Food
Hong Kong, China [41] [42]
No
Yes
No
Yes
N/A (China responsible for forreign affairs)
Hungary [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
India [43]
No
Yes
No
Yes
Partial - support from the Animal Welfare Board
Indonesia [44]
Partial - mental health recognized
Yes
No
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Iran [45]
No
No
No
No
No
Ireland [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Italy [46]
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Japan [47]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Kazakhstan [48]
No
No
No
Yes
No
Kenya [49]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Latvia [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Lebanon [50] [51]
Partial
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Lesotho [13]
No
No
No
Yes -unenforced
No
Lithuania [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Luxembourg [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Madagascar [13]
No
No
No
No
No
Malawi [13]
No
Yes
No
Yes - unenforced
No
Malaysia [52]
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Mali [53]
No
No
No
Yes
No
Malta [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Resources
Mauritius [13] [54]
No
No
No
Yes
No
Mexico [55]
Partial - varies internally
Yes
No
Yes
No
Mongolia [56]
No
No
No
No
No
Morocco [57] [58]
No
Yes
No
Yes -unenforced
No
Mozambique [13]
No
No
No
No
No
Myanmar [59]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Namibia [13]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
New Zealand [60]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Netherlands [61]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Niger [62]
No
Partial - domesticated animals only
No
Yes
No
North Korea [63]
No
No
No
Yes
No
Norway [64]
Partial - mental health recognized
Yes
No
Yes
No
Paraguay [65]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Pakistan [66]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Peru [67]
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Philippines [68] [69]
Partial - mental health recognized
Yes
No
Yes
Partial - support from various internal departments
Poland [70]
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Portugal [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Romania [71]
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Russia [72]
No
No
No
Yes
No
Saudi Arabia [73]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Seychelles [13] [74]
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Spain [75]
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
South Africa [76]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
South Korea [77]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Slovakia [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Slovenia [19] [20]
Yes
Yes
Unknown
Yes
Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture
Swaziland [13]
No
Yes
No
Yes -unenforced
No
Sweden [78]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Switzerland [79]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Tanzania [80]
Partial - some animals excluded
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Thailand [81]
No
Yes
No
Yes
Partial - support from various internal departments
Turkey [82]
Partial - mental health recognized
Yes
No
Yes
No
Ukraine [83]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
United Kingdom [84]
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Partial - support from various internal departments
United States [85]
Partial - varies internally
Yes
Partial - varies internally
Yes
Partial - support from various internal departments
Uruguay [86]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Venezuela [87]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Vietnam [88]
No
No
No
No
No
Zambia [13]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Zimbabwe [13]
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Individual countries [ ]
Animal welfare and rights in Argentina
Animal welfare and rights in Australia
Animal welfare and rights in Austria
Animal welfare and rights in Azerbaijan
Animal welfare and rights in Brazil
Animal welfare and rights in China
Animal rights in Colombia
Animal welfare and rights in Denmark
Animal welfare in Egypt
Animal welfare and rights in Ethiopia
Animal welfare and rights in France
Animal welfare and rights in Germany
Animal welfare and rights in India
Animal welfare and rights in Indonesia
Animal welfare and rights in Iran
Animal welfare and rights in Israel
Animal rights in Italy
Animal welfare and rights in Japan
Animal welfare and rights in Malaysia
Animal welfare and rights in Mexico
Animal welfare and rights in the Netherlands
Animal welfare in New Zealand
Animal welfare and rights in Russia
Animal welfare and rights in South Africa
Animal welfare and rights in South Korea
Animal welfare and rights in Spain
Animal welfare and rights in Sweden
Animal welfare and rights in Switzerland
Animal welfare in Thailand
Animal welfare in the United Kingdom
Animal welfare in the United States
See also [ ]
Notes [ ]
^ These countries have pledged to support the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare
References [ ]
hide Animal rights
hide Topics (overviews, concepts, issues, cases)
Overviews Concepts Issues
Animal agriculture
Animal product
Battery cage
Bile bear
Chick culling
Concentrated animal feeding operation
Fish farming
Fur farming
Fur trade
Insect farming
Intensive animal farming
Intensive pig farming
Livestock
Poultry farming
Slaughterhouse
Wildlife farming
Animal testing
Animal testing on non-human primates
Animal testing regulations
Covance
Great ape research ban
Green Scare
Huntingdon Life Sciences
Model organism
Nafovanny
Operation Backfire
Animal welfare
Animal euthanasia
Cruelty to animals
Pain in animals
Pain in amphibians
Pain in cephalopods
Pain in crustaceans
Pain in fish
Pain in invertebrates
Pain and suffering in laboratory animals
Welfare of farmed insects
Fishing
Commercial fishing
Fishing bait
Recreational fishing
Wild animals
Culling wildlife
Hare coursing
Hunting
International primate trade
Ivory trade
Predation problem
Wild animal suffering
Wildlife management
Other
Cases
show Advocates (academics, writers, activists)
show Movement (groups, parties)
Groups
Parties
Animal Justice Party (Australia)
Animal Politics EU (Europe)
Animal Protection Party of Canada (Canada)
Animal Welfare Party (UK)
Animal Justice Party of Finland (Finland)
Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (Spain)
DierAnimal (Belgium)
Human Environment Animal Protection (Germany)
Italian Animalist Party (Italy)
Party for Animal Welfare (Ireland)
Party for the Animals (Netherlands)
People Animals Nature (Portugal)
V-Partei³ (Germany)
show Media (books, films, periodicals, albums)
Books Films Periodicals
Albums
Animal Liberation (1987)
Tame Yourself (1991)
Manifesto (2008)
Salvation of Innocents (2014)
Onward to Freedom (2014)
Category ( 183 )
show Lists of countries by
laws and
law enforcement rankings Age of
Consent
Legal candidacy for political office
Criminal responsibility
Legal drinking
Legal driving
Majority
Legal marriage (in the US )
Retirement age
School-leaving age
Legal smoking (in the US )
Voting
Working age
Drugs
Drug and precursor laws by country or territory
Psychedelics
Amanita mushroom
Ayahuasca
Cannabis
Legality
annual use
lifetime use
Ibogaine
LSD
Psilocybin mushroom
Salvia divinorum
Other
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol law
Bath salts
Legal status of Mephedrone
Legal status of MPDV
Legal status of Methylone
Cocaine use
Methamphetamine
Opiate use
Death Guns Punishment
Corporal punishment
At home
At school
In court
Death penalty
Incarceration
Life imprisonment
Obscenity
Incest
Pornography
Child pornography
Simulated child pornography
Drawn pornography depicting minors
Internet pornography
Prostitution
Sexual assault
Sodomy law
Sex trafficking
Reproduction
Abortion law
Adoption law
Human cloning
Sterilization
Surrogacy
Censorship
Censorship by country
Book censorship
Film censorship
Internet censorship
Cartographic censorship
Political censorship
Video gaming censorship
Human rights Freedom of movement Property andEnvironmental
Air
Estate
Land
Minerals
Mining
Mortgage
Water
Business
Corporate
Competition
Mergers and acquisitions
Monopoly
Legality of bitcoin by country or territory
International ownership
International waters
Antarctic Treaty System
Other
Animal rights
Immigration law
National legal systems
Police brutality
Religious law
separation of church and state
Sharia
Size of police forces
World Justice Project