Declining numbers of laboratory animals in Germany Possible reasons for the reduction and its impact on Germany as a research hub
What it's about:
In 2025, the German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals published the reported figures on laboratory animals used in Germany in 2024. According to these official statistics, the numbers fell for the fifth consecutive year and, for the first time, dropped below two million animals used or killed for scientific purposes in Germany.
From the BfR’s perspective, more reliable data is needed to specifically identify and understand the reasons for the steadily declining numbers of laboratory animals. Against this background, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has used various conceptual approaches to investigate in greater depth the reasons for the decline and, in doing so, the potential implications for basic life sciences research as well as translational and applied research.
The following methods were used in the investigation:
- Detailed analysis of German laboratory animal statistics up to the reporting year 2024
- Evaluation of the contribution of individual research areas to the downward trend, as well as a comparison of German laboratory animal statistics with figures from France and the United Kingdom
- Impact of the downward trend on national publication output in the biomedical research domain in a global and European comparison
- Impact of the downward trend on pharmaceutical companies’ satisfaction with Germany as a research and development location
- Investigation of the possible reasons for the reduction in the number of laboratory animals.
The cause of the reduction in the number of laboratory animals cannot be attributed to a single factor, but has a very high probability of being multifactorial.