Data last verified: 13 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
The number of UK veterinary businesses peaked at 4,045 in 2020, fell to 3,380 in 2023 and stood at 3,795 in March 2026.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/vets/uk-veterinary-industry, 2026-11-13. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 13, 2026
Read a short summary
General summary
The UK had 3,795 veterinary businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 19.5% up on 2010 (3,175) and 2.6% down on 2021 (3,895). 73.0% employ fewer than ten people. South West has the most per head, 8.9 per 100,000 residents. North East has the fewest, 3.3.
Bullet points
- 3,795 UK veterinary businesses in March 2026 (ONS).
- Compared with 2010: 19.5% up on 2010 (3,175).
- Compared with 2021: 2.6% down on 2021 (3,895).
- 73.0% employ fewer than ten people.
- Most per head: South West, 8.9 per 100,000 residents. Fewest: North East, 3.3.
Basic explainer
A veterinary business runs one or more vet practices. This page counts how many of these businesses there are in the UK, using official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It shows how the number has changed since 2010, how big the businesses are and where they are based. It also sets out new price rules from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK competition regulator. A group that owns many practices is counted once.
These summaries were written with AI from this page only. The full page below is the record.
Short answer: the UK had 3,795 veterinary businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 19.5% up on 2010 (3,175) and 2.6% down on 2021 (3,895). 73.0% employ fewer than ten people. South West has the most per head, 8.9 per 100,000 residents; North East has the fewest, 3.3.
This page uses official counts you can rerun yourself, the rules that apply, and Whito’s published research. The regional and change figures are Whito’s calculations. A business that runs several practices is counted once, so this is a count of veterinary businesses, not of practices or vets.
The key figures
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary businesses (UK, SIC 75000) | 3,795 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +19.5% (from 3,175) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | -2.6% (from 3,895) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 2,770 (73.0%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 20 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | South West, 8.9 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | North East, 3.3 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Highest count since 2010 | 4,045 in 2020 | ONS UK Business Counts |
| Lowest count since 2020 | 3,380 in 2023 | ONS UK Business Counts |
| Cap on the fee for a written prescription | £21.40 for the first medicine, £12.70 for each extra one, including VAT, until 31 March 2028 | CMA guidance for veterinary businesses, GOV.UK, updated 15 October 2026 |
The count year by year
| Year | Businesses (UK) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3,175 |
| 2011 | 3,285 |
| 2012 | 3,400 |
| 2013 | 3,465 |
| 2014 | 3,425 |
| 2015 | 3,530 |
| 2016 | 3,800 |
| 2017 | 3,825 |
| 2018 | 3,930 |
| 2019 | 4,010 |
| 2020 | 4,045 |
| 2021 | 3,895 |
| 2022 | 3,545 |
| 2023 | 3,380 |
| 2024 | 3,450 |
| 2025 | 3,630 |
| 2026 | 3,795 |
The highest count in this period was 4,045 in 2020. The lowest was 3,175 in 2010. Each count is a snapshot taken in March of that year.
How big are veterinary businesses?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 2,770 | 73.0% |
| 10 to 49 | 905 | 23.8% |
| 50 to 249 | 105 | 2.8% |
| 250 or more | 20 | 0.5% |
| Total | 3,795 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 75000 “Veterinary activities”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where veterinary businesses are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West | 430 | 555 | 525 | 8.9 | +22.1% | -5.4% |
| Northern Ireland | 110 | 130 | 135 | 7.0 | +22.7% | +3.8% |
| East of England | 335 | 410 | 455 | 6.9 | +35.8% | +11.0% |
| South East | 520 | 670 | 650 | 6.7 | +25.0% | -3.0% |
| Wales | 160 | 190 | 190 | 6.0 | +18.8% | 0.0% |
| Scotland | 305 | 295 | 280 | 5.0 | -8.2% | -5.1% |
| East Midlands | 225 | 265 | 255 | 5.0 | +13.3% | -3.8% |
| West Midlands | 255 | 275 | 290 | 4.7 | +13.7% | +5.5% |
| North West | 300 | 410 | 360 | 4.6 | +20.0% | -12.2% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 210 | 275 | 255 | 4.5 | +21.4% | -7.3% |
| London | 245 | 315 | 310 | 3.4 | +26.5% | -1.6% |
| North East | 85 | 105 | 90 | 3.3 | +5.9% | -14.3% |
| United Kingdom | 3,175 | 3,895 | 3,795 | 5.5 | +19.5% | -2.6% |
Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates. Per-head and change figures are Whito calculations. A business is counted once, where it is registered, which is not always where it works.
What stands out
- South West has about 2.7 times as many per head as North East (8.9 against 3.3 per 100,000 residents).
- Biggest rise since 2010: East of England (+35.8%). Biggest fall: Scotland (-8.2%).
- 3 of the 12 regions and nations have more businesses than in 2021. 8 have fewer and 1 has the same count.
- The data cannot say why counts rise or fall. New firms, firms crossing the VAT threshold, mergers, closures and businesses registering elsewhere all move the count.
Rules that apply
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) finished its market investigation into vet services for household pets in 2026. Its remedies are legally binding rules for veterinary businesses.
Veterinary businesses with 14 or fewer practices must publish a price list for a set list of services, online and in the practice, and must show clearly which group owns them. Both duties apply from the next working day after 22 March 2027. Businesses with 15 or more practices are covered by a separate CMA guide.
The fee for a written prescription is capped at £21.40 for the first medicine and £12.70 for each extra one, including VAT. For businesses with 14 or fewer practices, the cap applies from the next working day after 22 September 2027 and runs until 31 March 2028, after which it rises with inflation.
The remedies do not apply to charities that provide small animal vet services. Source: CMA guidance for veterinary businesses with 14 or fewer practices, GOV.UK, published 13 October 2026 and updated 15 October 2026.
What Whito’s research adds
Whito’s other vet pages: We Checked 72 UK Vet Websites Against the CMA Price Deadline, Which vets does AI actually recommend? We asked 3 engines about 6 UK cities, with screenshots (2026 study), Ask AI for a Good Vet: 22 of the 40 It Names Belong to Corporate Groups (2026), The CMA Orders Bind on 23 September. What Every Vet Practice Must Publish., UK Vet Practice Marketing Costs 2026: What to Spend and Where. This page adds the official business counts, by size, by region and by year.
What we do not know yet
- How many people work in the industry. This page counts businesses, not workers.
- The smallest sole traders. Businesses that are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the ONS count.
- Turnover. We only publish figures we can check at source.
Method and limits
- Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 75000, all legal statuses, March snapshots for 2010 to 2026, via the Nomis API (dataset NM_142_1), read 13 November 2026.
- Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates via Nomis (NM_2002_1).
- Counts are rounded to the nearest 5 by ONS. Business counts are March 2026; population is mid-2025.
Compare with other industries: see UK trade businesses in 2026: ten industries compared, one table with each count, its date and the change since 2010 and 2021.
Compare with other industries: see how vets compare with eleven other UK industries by number of businesses, growth since 2010 and business size, in one table: UK industries compared 2026.
Common questions
How many veterinary businesses are there in the UK?
3,795 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 75000). A group with many practices is counted once.
Is the number of veterinary businesses growing?
It fell 2.6% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 19.5% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most veterinary businesses?
By number, South East (650). Per head, South West, with 8.9 per 100,000 residents.
Are most veterinary businesses small?
Yes. 2,770 of 3,795 (73.0%) employ fewer than ten people.
Sources (opened 13 November 2026)
- ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, NM_142_1: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1
- ONS mid-2025 population estimates via Nomis, NM_2002_1
- Competition and Markets Authority, What veterinary businesses and vets need to do following the CMA’s final vets report (published 13 October 2026, updated 15 October 2026): GOV.UK
