Japan’s pet care industry booms as ‘fur babies’ outnumber infants
Summary
Japan’s pet care market is growing quickly as pets now outnumber children under 15 by more than 2 million. Companies that once focused on baby products are now making goods for pets, like diapers and carriers, to meet new demand from pet owners treating animals like family members.Key Facts
- Japan’s pet care market was worth about 880 billion yen ($5.4 billion) in 2025, up from 689.6 billion yen ($4.2 billion) in 2020.
- Pets in Japan outnumber children under 15 by more than 2 million.
- Lucky Industries, a company that traditionally made baby carriers, launched a dog hip carrier product line in 2022.
- Unicharm, known for feminine hygiene and baby products, expanded into pet diapers in 2001 and now sees pet care as a major growth area.
- In 2025, Unicharm’s pet care division had a profit margin of 15.4%, higher than its personal care margin of 10.7%.
- Pet care products accounted for 17% of Unicharm’s total sales in 2025, with plans to grow to 20% by 2030.
- Changes in Japanese society, like fewer children, later marriages, and more single or dual-income households, are increasing demand for pet products.
- Many pet owners now treat pets like family members, buying premium products and sharing activities such as dining and outings.
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