How many animals of different types are used?

Nine in ten laboratory animals in Sweden are fish, mice, or rats.

Fish and mice were the most frequently used laboratory animals in Sweden in 2007. Rats held third place. Together fish, mice, and rats were the species that accounted for 9 in 10 laboratory animals used during the year, based on the European definition of laboratory animals.

Number of laboratory animals used in Sweden in 2007
	European definition	Swedish definition, excluding fish samples*
Mice	214 670	259 789
Rats	64 867	73 526
Guinea pigs	1 475	1 751
Syrian (golden) hamsters	562	639
Other hamsters	2	18
Other rodents, e.g. gerbils, field mice	2 780	2 852
Rabbits	1 304	1 446
Apes, e.g. chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans,	0	0
New World monkeys, e.g. howler monkeys, spider monkeys	0	0
Other monkeys, e.g. macaque	129	145
Prosimians, e.g. lemurs	0	0
Dogs	1 969	2 013
Cats	91	97
Ferrets	39	173
Other predators, e.g. fox, badgers	258	618
Horses, donkeys	594	718
Pigs	2 322	3 880
Sheep	366	508
Goats	22	32
Cattle	2 032	4 346
Other mammals, e.g. reindeers, bats, moles	209	1 494
Quail	5	521
Other birds, e.g. chickens	13 717	395 861
Reptiles	30	48
Amphibians	1 610	3 817
Fish	215 711	279 539
Jawless fish	0	634

Total	524 764	1 034 465

* Fish samples: are used to study fish populations in our waterways. See description below.

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.