A review of global progress in animal welfare science, legislation, and practice across key areas, examining what has improved, where gaps remain largest, and the drivers of welfare change worldwide.
Global animal welfare progress presents a complex picture — genuine improvements in specific areas and jurisdictions coexisting with an overall increase in the total number of animals in welfare-compromising conditions worldwide. Legislative advances, corporate commitments, and scientific recognition of animal sentience have produced real welfare gains for specific populations. The cage-free commitment movement, sea lice welfare science, and recognition of fish sentience represent examples of meaningful progress. However, global farmed animal numbers continue to grow, with welfare improvements frequently outpaced by production expansion. Progress requires sustained, coordinated effort across legislation, certification, corporate supply chains, and consumer behavior — no single lever is sufficient at the scale of the challenge.