How many animals are used in research?

Nine in ten laboratory animals in Sweden are fish, mice, or rats. This is reported in the statistics for 2007 from the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The total number of animals used in 2007 was approximately half a million.

During 2007 the total number of animals used in research in Sweden decreased slightly. However, the longterm trend is that the number of mice used in research in Sweden and internationally has increased in recent years. Largely this is due to the increased utilisation of transgenic technology, primarily used in mice. Fewer and fewer rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs are being used.

The statistics cover data on vertebrates. Swedish and European definitions on what constitutes a laboratory animal differ. This difference is important to recognise when comparing statistics from different countries.

The Swedish definition of laboratory animal includes many more animals than the European definition does. For instance, Sweden includes animals used in behavioural studies.

Overview of animals used for research in Sweden

Number of laboratory animals used in Sweden
Year	European definition	Swedish definition, excluding fish samples	Fish samples	Swedish definition, including fish samples
2007	524 764	1 034 465	6 096 188	7 130 653
2006	532 685	758 213	6 653 651	7 411 864
2005	505 681	1 273 277	6 356 105	7 629 382
2004	446 936	1 005 480	7 065 550	8 071 030

Using the Swedish definition, the use of laboratory animals has declined since 2004.

Using the European definition, the use of laboratory animals increased from 2004 to 2006 and slightly decreased in 2007.

Fish samples

Since 2003, fish samples have been included under the definition of laboratory animals. Fish samples are taken to study the fish populations in our waterways.

Since collecting fish samples differs substantially from traditional laboratory activities involving fish, the statistics on laboratory animals are presented with and without fish samples. The number of fish collected as samples varies widely from year to year.

Published: 2009-04-15

Last updated: 2009-08-06

A comparison

Swedish and European definition of laboratory animals - what differentiates them?

Responsible for content: Mats Ulfendahl, Secretary General of Medicine and health, Swedish Research Council.
Editor: Peter Tillhammar, Swedish Research Council. Contact: Send email to the editorial staff.