Oops. Forgot the link to the list of most popular breeds. Here it is:
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/most-popular-dog-breeds-full-ranking-list/
I have no interest in arguing for or against them here, but that is not really valid as it’s based entirely on AKC registration statistics.
“Pit bull” is not an actual breed and therefore unregistrable, unlike Rotts and other “real” AKC recognized breeds.
There is no feasible means of actually counting them, as they are mostly bred by backyard breeders are never registered like “real” breeds.
In my area, you are more likely to encounter someone walking a pit bull than all other breeds, combined.
There are a LOT of them.
The most reasonable ‘head count’ for the breed is outlined, here:
Although there are no accurate or even near accurate census records for dogs in the U.S., in some populations pit bulls are estimated to comprise some 30-40% of the dog population, making it a very popular breed.
Considering that there were an estimated 53,000,000 dogs in the U.S., and assuming that pit bulls make up 10% of that population, there would be approximately 5.3 million pit bulls in our society.
In 2000, 13 pit bulls were involved in 8 fatal attacks.
That is roughly ONE dog out of 204,000 - or .000385 percent of the pit bull population.
Again, this is for information regarding the sheer numerical prevalence of them being kept as pets in the US.
Pfl