Looking for emotional support animal statistics? This page pulls together the most reliable data on ESAs in one place: how common they are, the research on how companion animals support mental health, the conditions people most often have them for, and the legal rights an ESA carries in 2026. Every figure is sourced to a government agency, peer-reviewed body, or established research institute.
Sources: NIMH / SAMHSA (2022); American Pet Products Association (2024); HABRI (2022); American Psychiatric Association (2023).
The mental-health backdrop
Emotional support animals exist because the need they address is widespread. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 1 in 5 U.S. adults (an estimated 59.3 million people, or 23.1%) lived with a mental illness in 2022. The rate is highest among young adults aged 18 to 25, where it reaches roughly 36% (NIMH, drawing on SAMHSA’s 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health).
That is about 23% of all U.S. adults. Against that backdrop, a large share of people turn to companion animals for day-to-day emotional support, which is the role an ESA formally fills.
What the research says about pets and mental health
The link between companion animals and wellbeing is one of the more consistently studied areas of the human-animal bond. In a national survey by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), 87% of pet owners said they had experienced a mental-health improvement from owning a pet, up from 74% in 2016. The same body of research points to specific, anxiety-related benefits.
Notably, the support role is increasingly recognized clinically: HABRI found that about 1 in 5 pet owners has had a pet recommended by a doctor or therapist, and a 2023 American Psychiatric Association poll found that roughly 1 in 5 pet owners reports having an emotional support animal.
How common are ESAs?
There is no official general registry for emotional support animals, so an exact national count does not exist, and any site claiming a precise number should be read with caution. The most defensible figure comes from the American Psychiatric Association’s 2023 poll, which found that about 1 in 5 pet owners reports having an ESA. With roughly two-thirds of U.S. households owning a pet, that points to a substantial and growing population, even though the precise total cannot be verified.
⚠️ A note on “ESA registration” numbers
Emotional support animals do not require, and cannot be granted by, any official registry or certificate. A legitimate emotional support animal is established by a letter from a licensed mental-health professional, not by a database entry. Any statistic based on “registrations” reflects private websites, not a government count, so treat those figures with skepticism.
Conditions ESAs are most often associated with
An ESA is recommended when a licensed mental-health professional determines that an animal’s companionship helps ease symptoms of a diagnosed condition. The conditions most commonly cited in this context mirror the most prevalent mental-health diagnoses in the United States: anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anxiety disorders alone affect an estimated 19% of U.S. adults in a given year (NIMH), which helps explain why anxiety is so frequently associated with ESA recommendations.
ESA legal rights, in brief
An ESA’s protections are narrower than many people assume, and they changed meaningfully in recent years. Here is where an emotional support animal stands under federal law in 2026.
The 2021 U.S. Department of Transportation rule under the Air Carrier Access Act ended the requirement that airlines accommodate ESAs. Housing remains the primary federal protection, through the Fair Housing Act.
2026 HUD update
In May 2026, HUD changed how it enforces ESA housing complaints. The Fair Housing Act itself did not change and ESAs remain legal, but legitimate documentation matters more than ever. See our
Methodology & data notes
Figures are drawn from federal agencies (NIMH, SAMHSA, DOT, HUD), an industry research body (the American Pet Products Association), a peer-reviewed research institute (HABRI), and a professional medical association (the American Psychiatric Association). Where an exact national count of ESAs is not available, we say so directly rather than cite an unverifiable “registration” figure. Mental-health prevalence reflects SAMHSA’s 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the most recent year available at publication.
Last verified: June 2026. This page is informational and is not medical or legal advice.
How many emotional support animals are there in the U.S.?
There is no official registry, so no exact count exists. The best available figure comes from a 2023 American Psychiatric Association poll, which found that about 1 in 5 pet owners reports having an emotional support animal. Any site citing a precise national total is estimating, not reporting an official number.
Do pets actually help with mental health?
Research consistently points that way. A HABRI national survey found 87% of pet owners reported a mental-health improvement from pet ownership, and most reported reduced stress and anxiety. These are self-reported survey findings, not a guarantee of clinical outcomes, but the pattern is strong and well-documented.
What conditions qualify someone for an ESA?
An ESA is appropriate when a licensed mental-health professional determines an animal helps ease symptoms of a diagnosed condition. The conditions most commonly associated with ESAs are anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD.
Can emotional support animals still fly on planes?
Not as a protected category. Since January 2021, a U.S. Department of Transportation rule lets airlines treat ESAs as pets rather than as assistance animals. Only trained service dogs are accommodated under the Air Carrier Access Act.
Are emotional support animals still protected in housing?
Yes. The Fair Housing Act still protects ESAs as a reasonable accommodation in 2026. A 2026 HUD memo changed how the agency enforces complaints, but it did not repeal the law or invalidate legitimate letters.
Sources & Further Readings
- National Institute of Mental Health. Mental Illness statistics (SAMHSA NSDUH, 2022): 59.3M adults, 23.1%.
- American Pet Products Association. National Pet Owners Survey (2024): ~66% of U.S. households own a pet.
- Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI). Survey of U.S. Pet Owners (2022): 87% report mental-health improvement; ~1 in 5 had a pet recommended by a doctor or therapist.
- American Psychiatric Association. Pets Offer Mental Health Support to Their Owners (2023): ~1 in 5 pet owners has an ESA.
- U.S. Department of Transportation. Traveling by Air with Service Animals final rule (effective January 2021).
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604. See also CertaPet, HUD ESA Policy Changes (2026).
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