TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Pets in Taiwan now outnumber children by more than 500,000 as the birth rate continues to decline.
According to 2025 data from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan had 3.205 million pet dogs and cats, exceeding the 2.682 million children aged 0–14 by more than 523,000, per the Commercial Times. Fifteen cities and counties now have more pets than children, led by New Taipei City with a gap of 162,459, followed by Kaohsiung at 87,147 and Taichung at 71,652.
Lai Chih-chang (賴志昶), deputy public relations manager at Great Home Realty, told SET News that falling birth rates and the rise of small apartments are reshaping housing demand toward more individual lifestyles. He said buyers should assess whether compact units meet long-term living needs beyond price and financing.
Wang Chien-wei (王健維), a deputy regional manager at H&B Realty Co., said rapid development, rising home prices, and spillover from Taipei have pushed more first-time buyers into smaller homes, according to SET News. He said smaller living spaces have also encouraged pet ownership.
Lai added that housing demand was once driven by population growth, but declining births and rising pet ownership are reshaping the market. He said buyers should weigh location and resale value carefully when choosing small, low-cost homes, as demographic shifts may affect long-term liquidity.
Chinatrust Real Estate Co. deputy research manager Chuang Si-ming (莊思敏) told the Commercial Times that pets have evolved into family members. She said homebuyers now consider not only transport, schools, and amenities, but also pet-friendly features such as parks, veterinary clinics, and pet supply stores.
She added that rising dual-income and single-person households are boosting demand for pets. Some buyers are willing to sacrifice space or location for more pet-friendly living environments, making such amenities an increasingly important factor in housing decisions.
