# Animal rights by country or territory

Animal rights vary greatly among countries and territories. Such laws range from the legal recognition of non-human animal sentience to the absolute lack of any anti-cruelty laws, with no regard for animal welfare.

## Overview

As of November 2019, 32 countries have formally recognized non-human animal sentience. These 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.
The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) is a proposed global initiative designed to acknowledge animal sentience, prevent cruelty, minimize suffering, and establish welfare standards for animals. It applies to various categories, including farm animals, pets, animals used in scientific research, working animals, wildlife, and those involved in recreational activities.
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. The United States of America is the only country in the world that has banned killing horses for consumption, and India have banned killing cows for consumption in some of its states.
Cow is the national animal of Nepal and cow slaughter is a punishable offense as per the prevailing law.
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.

## Global animal rights maps
### Food production

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 :
World laws on beak trimming :
vte
World laws on beak trimming
   Nationwide ban on beak trimming    Some subnational bans on beak trimming    Beak trimming legal    No data :
World laws on chick culling :
vte
World laws on chick culling
   Ban on all chick culling    Grinding chicks illegal, gassing chicks legal    Planned ban on all chick culling    Chick culling legal, no ban planned    No data :
World laws on foie gras production :
vte
World laws on foie gras production
   Countries and regions that ban foie gras production    Main foie gras-producing countries and regions :
World laws on stunning animals during ritual slaughter :
vte
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 :
Legal status of whaling :
vte
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

World laws on cosmetic animal testing :
vte
Worldwide laws regarding testing cosmetics on animals
   Nationwide ban on all cosmetic testing on animals    Partial ban on cosmetic testing on animals$^1$    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

World laws on bullfighting :
vte
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 :
World laws on cockfighting :
vte
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 :
World laws on dog fighting :
vte
World laws on dog fighting
   Nationwide ban on dog fighting    Some subnational bans on dog fighting    Dog fighting legal    No data :
World laws on dolphinariums / marine mammal captivity :
vte
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 :
Laws banning the use of animals in circuses :
vte
Worldwide laws on animal use in circuses
   Nationwide ban    Partial ban    Ban on import/export    No ban    Unknown
↑ certain animals are excluded or the laws vary internally :
World laws on goose pulling :
vte
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

European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (1968 & 2003) :
vte
European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (1968 original)
   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
vte
European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (2003 revision)
   Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states) :
European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes (1976) :
vte
European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes
   Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states) :
European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter (1979) :
vte
European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter
   Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states) :
Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (1979) :
vte
Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats
   Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states) :
European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes (1986) :
vte
European Convention for the Protection of Vertebrate Animals used for Experimental and other Scientific Purposes
   Signed and ratified    Acceded or succeeded    Only signed    Not signed (CoE member states)    Not signed (non-CoE member states) :
European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (1987) :
vte
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 :
| Country | Recognition of animal sentience | Recognition of animal suffering | Anti-cruelty laws meet OIE standards | Any laws against animal cruelty | Support at the United Nations |
| Algeria | No | No | No | Yes -unenforced | No |
| Angola | No | No | No | No | No |
| Argentina | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Australia | Yes | Yes | Partial - varies internally | Yes | No |
| Austria | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial - support from various internal departments |
| Azerbaijan | No | No | No | No | No |
| Belarus | No | No | No | No | No |
| Belgium | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Botswana | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Brazil | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bulgaria | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Cambodia | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Canada | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Chile | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| China | No | No | No | No | No |
| Colombia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Costa Rica | No | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Yes |
| Croatia | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | No |
| Cyprus | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Czech Republic | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | No | No | No | No | No |
| Denmark | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Food |
| Egypt | No | Yes | No | Yes -unenforced | No |
| Eritrea | No | No | No | No | No |
| Estonia | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Ethiopia | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Fiji | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Finland | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| France | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Germany | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Greece | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Food |
| Hong Kong | No | Yes | No | Yes | — (China responsible for foreign affairs) |
| Hungary | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| India | No | Yes | No | Yes | Partial - support from the Animal Welfare Board |
| Indonesia | Partial - mental health recognized | Yes | No | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Iran | No | No | No | No | No |
| Ireland | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Italy | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Japan | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Kazakhstan | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Kenya | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Latvia | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Lebanon | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Lesotho | No | No | No | Yes -unenforced | No |
| Lithuania | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Luxembourg | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Madagascar | No | No | No | No | No |
| Malawi | No | Yes | No | Yes - unenforced | No |
| Malaysia | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mali | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Malta | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Resources |
| Mauritius | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Mexico | Partial - varies internally | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Mongolia | No | No | No | No | No |
| Morocco | No | Yes | No | Yes -unenforced | No |
| Mozambique | No | No | No | No | No |
| Myanmar | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Namibia | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| New Zealand | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Netherlands | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Niger | No | Partial - domesticated animals only | No | Yes | No |
| North Korea | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Norway | Partial - mental health recognized | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Pakistan | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Paraguay | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Peru | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Philippines | Partial - mental health recognized | Yes | No | Yes | Partial - support from various internal departments |
| Poland | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Portugal | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Romania | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Russia | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Saudi Arabia | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Seychelles | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Singapore | No | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Unknown |
| Slovakia | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Slovenia | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| South Africa | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| South Korea | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Spain | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Partial - support from the Minister for Agriculture |
| Swaziland | No | Yes | No | Yes -unenforced | No |
| Sweden | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Switzerland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tanzania | Partial - some animals excluded | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Thailand | No | Yes | No | Yes | Partial - support from various internal departments |
| Turkey | Partial - mental health recognized | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Ukraine | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial - support from various internal departments |
| United States | Partial - varies internally | Yes | Partial - varies internally | Yes | Partial - support from various internal departments |
| Uruguay | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Venezuela | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Vietnam | No | No | No | No | No |
| Zambia | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Zimbabwe | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |