At Beyond Animal Research, substance and transparency matters - especially when it comes to the numbers we use to highlight the scale of harmful animal use in science.  

This blog provides a breakdown of how we calculated the key figures you'll see across our website. 

The headline figures 

Each year in Aotearoa New Zealand, approximately: 

• 340,000 animals are used in research, testing, and teaching (RTT/science)

• 120,000 of those animals are killed as part of that use 

• An additional 140,000 animals are bred for science but never used - and still killed 

That’s over a quarter of a million animals killed every year for science, whether they were used in procedures or not. 

Data sources 

Since 1987, the New Zealand Government has collected and published data on the use of animals in science.  

These figures cover animals used in research, testing, and teaching (RTT) as defined by the Animal Welfare Act 1999, and are publicly available here 

How the data has been published: 

• 1987 to 2013 – Animal use statistics were published annually within reports by the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC). 

• 2014 to 2023 – The data has been released as separate reports by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). 

How the averages were calculated 

To ensure accuracy and consistency, we used a three-year average from the most recent publicly available data: 2021–2023.

This helps account for year-to-year fluctuations and provides a clearer view of ongoing trends. 

The following tables support our calculations: 

Animals used for science (3-year average) 

The table below shows how many animals were used for science in NZ from 2021 to 2023, with a breakdown by species.

It includes the numbers for each year, plus the average across all three years to show the overall trend.

‍

Animals used and killed (3-year average) 

The table below shows how many animals were used and killed for science in NZ from 2021 to 2023, broken down by species.

It includes the yearly numbers and a 3-year average to show the overall trend. This covers animals that died or were euthanised during or after procedures, as well as those killed specifically for their tissues.

‍

Additional animals killed (3-year average) 

The table below shows how many animals were bred specifically for science but were never used and were killed as excess in NZ between 2021 and 2023, with a breakdown by species. It includes the numbers for each year, along with a 3-year average to highlight the overall trend.

‍

Animals killed (10-year overview) 

The graph below shows how many animals were killed for science in New Zealand from 2013 to 2023 the most recent 10 years of data available. This includes animals used in science and then killed, as well as animals bred for science but never used and subsequently killed.

‍

Why these numbers matter 

Animals have been harmed for science in Aotearoa for decades and despite growing public concern, and scientific advancement, that harm hasn’t meaningfully declined. 

Since 1987, the New Zealand Government has tracked how animals are used for science. But if you look at the last decade alone, the reality is impossible to ignore: 

More than 2.5 million animals used or bred for science were killed in New Zealand. 

This isn't just a legacy, in the past issue - it’s happening right now. Thousands of animals, across dozens of species, continue to be used and killed in the name of science every single year. And despite the growing availability of alternatives, we’re not seeing the dramatic reductions in animal use and harm that many people assume are already underway. 

That’s why Beyond Animal Research (BAR) was created. 

We're a bold new charity launched to tackle this issue differently - by working with science to drive real, long-term change.  

As the Science Alliance for Animals, we're here to break down the outdated barriers that keep animal harm locked into New Zealand’s research system - and to build a future where ethical, effective science thrives for animals and humans.  

It’s time for a science system that works for everyone - and harms no one. 

Join us and we can revolutionise science together!