In 2023, around 140 million tons of poultry meat were consumed worldwide, making it the most consumed type of meat globally. Pork was the second most consumed meat worldwide, followed by beef and veal. Leading consumers The per capita consumption of meat is forecast to grow in every part of the world by 2031. OECD countries had the highest per capita consumption of meat from 2019 to 2021, at 69.5 kilograms of retail weight per person. The world average per capita consumption is only about 34.1 kilograms. Shift towards meat substitutes Meat production is a significant greenhouse gas emitter and beef specifically emits more greenhouse gases than any other food product. Because of this and other climate change threats caused by meat production, such as deforestation, meat alternatives have been on the rise. It is projected that by 2040, 25 percent of all “meat” consumed will be vegan meat alternatives and only 40 percent of consumption will be from traditionally produced meat.

The per capita consumption of meat was highest in North America, at roughly 78.5 kilos per person in the period between 2021 and 2023. By comparison, the average person living in Africa consumed about 9.7 kilos per year during that period.

Global Beef and Veal Meat Consumption Per Capita by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Per capita meat consumption is projected to grow worldwide from an average of **** kilograms from 2021 to 2023 to **** kilograms in 2023. Meanwhile, the global population is also expected to further increase. In combination, this will drive up total worldwide meat consumption. Consumption is highest in the OECD country group, where per capita consumption is forecast to reach **** kilograms in 2033. North America is the region with the highest per capita meat consumption.

United States Long Term Projections: Per Capita Meat Consumption: Beef data was reported at 55.258 lb in 2034. This records a decrease from the previous number of 55.380 lb for 2033. United States Long Term Projections: Per Capita Meat Consumption: Beef data is updated yearly, averaging 55.360 lb from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2034, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 59.250 lb in 2024 and a record low of 52.840 lb in 2027. United States Long Term Projections: Per Capita Meat Consumption: Beef data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Department of Agriculture. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RI016: Agricultural Projections: Meat Consumption.

Meat Consumption per Capita: CF: Tambov Region data was reported at 84.000 kg in 2022. This stayed constant from the previous number of 84.000 kg for 2021. Meat Consumption per Capita: CF: Tambov Region data is updated yearly, averaging 65.000 kg from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 84.000 kg in 2022 and a record low of 49.000 kg in 2001. Meat Consumption per Capita: CF: Tambov Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table RU.HB006: Household Food Consumption per Capita: Meat.

Germans consumed around ** kilograms of meat per person in 2022. This was a decrease compared to previous years, with figures annually going lower and lower. When questioning the reasons for this development, several factors may come into play. But first, what kinds of meat do Germans actually eat? Meat in Germany Germany recorded a self-sufficiency rate of *** percent for meat products in 2023. The self-sufficiency rate shows the percentage of in-demand agricultural products guaranteed via domestic production. If the rate is under 100 percent, this indicated undersupply. In that case, the respective products have to be imported. But, thus far, Germany is able to support the national meat market on its own. Various types of meat are produced there. While figures fluctuated somewhat during the last decade, certain trends are visible. Pork was the most produced by far, with close to *** million tons of dressed weight recorded in 2022. Dressed weight is a term used for the weight of a harvested animal, sometimes also described as carcass or hanging weight. Poultry followed further behind, while mutton, goat and horse meat were produced the least. Pork also remained the most consumed type of meat in Germany, which is conclusive to a country known for its sausage products and roast pork dishes. However, it is worth noting that consumption figures decreased across the board for all meat types. Changing consumption Lower meat consumption levels may, first and foremost, simply be due to significantly higher consumer prices following the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, with figures showing a nearly ** percent increase that year. Another trend is changing consumer preference, whether someone abstains from eating meat due to ethical considerations about the meat industry or for individual health reasons. However, despite the developing market for substitute products and growing number of vegetarians in Germany, meat eating as such has not yet disappeared. In fact, in Germany, around ** percent of respondents to a survey on the topic stated they ate meat, and this is also the norm in other European countries.

Czech Republic Consumption: per Capita Avg: Food: Meat: Beef data was reported at 8.810 kg in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.430 kg for 2021. Czech Republic Consumption: per Capita Avg: Food: Meat: Beef data is updated yearly, averaging 9.400 kg from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2022, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.300 kg in 1998 and a record low of 7.510 kg in 2013. Czech Republic Consumption: per Capita Avg: Food: Meat: Beef data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Czech Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Czech Republic – Table CZ.H022: Food and Beverage Consumption: per Capita Average.

Meat Consumption per Capita: FE: Kamchatka Territory data was reported at 78.000 kg in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 77.000 kg for 2021. Meat Consumption per Capita: FE: Kamchatka Territory data is updated yearly, averaging 70.000 kg from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 82.000 kg in 1990 and a record low of 47.000 kg in 2000. Meat Consumption per Capita: FE: Kamchatka Territory data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table RU.HB006: Household Food Consumption per Capita: Meat.

Indonesia Average Weekly Consumption per Capita: Rural: Meat: Fresh Meat: Local Chicken Meat data was reported at 0.016 kg in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.019 kg for 2017. Indonesia Average Weekly Consumption per Capita: Rural: Meat: Fresh Meat: Local Chicken Meat data is updated yearly, averaging 0.015 kg from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2018, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.140 kg in 2008 and a record low of 0.009 kg in 2013. Indonesia Average Weekly Consumption per Capita: Rural: Meat: Fresh Meat: Local Chicken Meat data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Indonesia Premium Database’s Domestic Trade and Household Survey – Table ID.HC009: Average Weekly Consumption per Capita: Rural.

Indonesia Average Weekly Consumption per Capita: Urban: Meat: Fresh Meat: Beef data was reported at 0.013 kg in 2018. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.013 kg for 2017. Indonesia Average Weekly Consumption per Capita: Urban: Meat: Fresh Meat: Beef data is updated yearly, averaging 0.012 kg from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2018, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.019 kg in 2004 and a record low of 0.008 kg in 2013. Indonesia Average Weekly Consumption per Capita: Urban: Meat: Fresh Meat: Beef data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Indonesia Premium Database’s Domestic Trade and Household Survey – Table ID.HC008: Average Weekly Consumption per Capita: Urban.

The per-capita meat consumption in Germany increased from an estimated ** kilograms in 2018 to **** kg by 2022. Consumption in Italy and Spain also increased. Poland saw the largest rise in meat consumption in this time period. Consumption of meat in France remained mostly stable. Meat consumption in Germany German meat consumption is currently decreasing. Pork consumption especially, the biggest meat category by consumption volume, has declined since 2014. For 2022, the per capita consumption of pork is estimated to be under ** kilograms for the first time. Germany has the highest share of young individuals who consider themselves to be vegetarian among European countries. With the growing importance of these younger generations, meat consumption is likely to keep declining. Meat consumption in the UK The generational shift in consumption habits is also visible in the United Kingdom. Meat-free nutrition is the goal for over ********* of millennials in 2023. The share of Generation Z consumers who aimed for a meat-free diet in 2023 was ** percent. Beef and veal are on the chopping block. From 2006 to 2019/20, consumption per person per week declined from *** to ** grams per person.

Czech Republic Consumption: per Capita Avg: Food: Meat: Pork data was reported at 43.940 kg in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 44.570 kg for 2021. Czech Republic Consumption: per Capita Avg: Food: Meat: Pork data is updated yearly, averaging 41.590 kg from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2022, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 45.700 kg in 1998 and a record low of 40.330 kg in 2013. Czech Republic Consumption: per Capita Avg: Food: Meat: Pork data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Czech Statistical Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Czech Republic – Table CZ.H022: Food and Beverage Consumption: per Capita Average.

Meat Consumption per Capita: FE: Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) data was reported at 87.000 kg in 2022. This stayed constant from the previous number of 87.000 kg for 2021. Meat Consumption per Capita: FE: Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) data is updated yearly, averaging 83.000 kg from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 90.000 kg in 2013 and a record low of 71.000 kg in 1999. Meat Consumption per Capita: FE: Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table RU.HB006: Household Food Consumption per Capita: Meat.

Gabon recorded the highest per capita amount of meat available for human consumption among countries in Africa as of 2020. The average meat supply in the Central African country reached 67 kilograms per capita. The Seychelles and South Africa followed closely, with a supply of over 62 and 59.8 kilograms per person that year, respectively. On the other hand, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded the lowest meat supply, 3.1 kilograms and around 3.2 kilograms per capita, respectively.

Meat Consumption per Capita: CF: Tver Region data was reported at 81.000 kg in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 79.000 kg for 2021. Meat Consumption per Capita: CF: Tver Region data is updated yearly, averaging 53.000 kg from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 81.000 kg in 2022 and a record low of 36.000 kg in 2000. Meat Consumption per Capita: CF: Tver Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table RU.HB006: Household Food Consumption per Capita: Meat.

Meat Consumption per Capita: NC: Republic of Dagestan data was reported at 49.000 kg in 2022. This stayed constant from the previous number of 49.000 kg for 2021. Meat Consumption per Capita: NC: Republic of Dagestan data is updated yearly, averaging 35.000 kg from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51.000 kg in 2020 and a record low of 22.000 kg in 2001. Meat Consumption per Capita: NC: Republic of Dagestan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table RU.HB006: Household Food Consumption per Capita: Meat.

Meat Consumption per Capita: FE: Sakhalin Region data was reported at 92.000 kg in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 94.000 kg for 2021. Meat Consumption per Capita: FE: Sakhalin Region data is updated yearly, averaging 79.000 kg from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.000 kg in 2021 and a record low of 47.000 kg in 1999. Meat Consumption per Capita: FE: Sakhalin Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal State Statistics Service. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Household Survey – Table RU.HB006: Household Food Consumption per Capita: Meat.

In 2024, the most consumed type of meat in the United States was broiler chicken, at about 102.1 pounds per capita. This figure is expected to increase to around 110.4 pounds per capita by 2034. Chickens in the United States To accommodate the growing demand for chicken among American consumers, there is a rapidly expanding chicken industry in the United States. The overall value of all chickens in America was over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. In that same year, an individual chicken in the United States was worth 3.32 U.S. dollars. Meat consumption in the United States On average, Americans purchase fresh meat about 27 times per year, compared to only 4.3 times for fresh seafood. A 2018 survey found that nearly half of Americans eat chicken a couple times a week but not every day, while only 9 percent ate chicken on a daily basis. Ready-to-eat meat/poultry is also very popular among consumers in the United States, with about 40 percent of Americans eating ready-to-eat meat at least once a week as of 2017.

When global food prices spiked upwards in 2007, the popular press explained the spike, in part, by rising demand for meat in rapidly-growing ‘emerging markets’ such as India and South Africa. Such an explanation was palpably wrong: people in rich countries consume more than three times as much meat, and more than four times as much dairy, as people in developing countries, with Americans consuming 121 kilograms of meat per person per year while South Asians and Africans consume, on average, 18 kilograms and 7 kilograms, respectively, per person per year. Thus, in 2010 countries with 12 per cent of the world’s population consumed nearly one third of global meat consumption, while countries with a little under half the world population consumed 16 per cent of meat consumption.