How many animals are used in experiments in Germany?

In 2024, just under 1.33 million animals were used for animal experiments in Germany (
§ 7 Abs. 2 Tierschutzgesetz (TierSchG)). Added to this is the number of vertebrate animals killed for scientific purposes, for example to remove organs or tissue for examination. If animals are killed without having first undergone experimental procedures, this is not an animal experiment in the sense of the law, but these figures are nevertheless included in the annual laboratory animal report. The figures are regularly published on the homepage of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (LINK).

Like other EU countries, Germany is also legally obliged to report animal experiments. The exact procedure is regulated in the Laboratory Animal Notification Ordinance (in German only). The report should record the type, origin and number of all vertebrate or cephalopod animals used, as well as the purpose, nature and severity of the experiments.