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.

This statistic shows the per capita consumption of red meat in the United States from 2010 to 2023, with an estimated figure for 2024, by type. The consumption of beef in the U.S. amounted to 57.6 pounds per capita in 2023, and was estimated to decrease slightly in 2024.

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 statistic shows the projected meat consumption per capita worldwide from 2022 to 2033. It was predicted that the global consumption of meat per capita in 2033 will be 28.6 kilograms (retail weight equivalent).

Per capita meat consumption is projected to grow worldwide from an average of 28.1 kilograms from 2021 to 2023 to 28.6 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 56.4 kilograms in 2033. North America is the region with the highest per capita meat consumption.

In Portugal, the consumption of meat per capita increased by over five kilograms from 2021 to 2023, reaching 119.6 kilograms. Poultry is not only the type of meat that increased the most in per capita consumption over the observed period but also the most consumed meat, with 47.2 kilograms per person. Pork is the second most consumed meat in the country, with 41.7 kilograms consumed per capita. In third place is beef, registering a consumption of 21.7 kilograms per capita.

By 2024, poultry was forecasted to be the most consumed kind of meat product in Brazil, with 30 kilograms per capita. Beef and veal were also predicted to be one of the most widely enjoyed meat types by Brazilians that year, with an estimate of nearly 19 kilograms consumed per capita.

This statistic shows the per capita meat consumption worldwide in 2015 and also provides a forecast for 2030, by type. The per capita consumption of poultry was projected to reach 17.2 kilograms in 2030.

Meat consumption - additional information

Meat has been a dietary staple for several millennia. Early hunter-gatherers had hunted large animals for sustenance. Sheep and goats were one of the first animals which had been domesticated as a food source. The domestication of both animals had become typical of nomadic pastoralists. Cattle and pigs had been domesticated somewhat later, as communities converted to more sedentary lifestyles. Meat, which is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals, can become part of a healthy and balanced diet. However, some meats contain high amounts of saturated fat, which can increase blood cholesterol levels. Pork was the most popular meat product in 2015, with a global per capita consumption of 15.3 kilograms. Poultry was the second most widely consumed meat product that year, followed by beef. The per capita consumption of poultry worldwide amounted to 13.8 kilograms, while beef consumption was 10.1 kilograms. Nonetheless, the per capita consumption of poultry and beef were forecasted to surpass pork consumption by 2030. In 2013, the net production of pork worldwide exceeded 113 million metric tons. China accounted for more than half of the total pork production that year. The United States was the second leading pork-producing country, generating over 10.5 million metric tons of pork. Furthermore, more than 310 million metric tons of meat was produced during that period.

Focusing on the forecast period: With the exception of 2026, the consumption per capita of beef and veal in the Philippines was forecast to increase by 0.1 kilograms per capita (+4.27%) in the upcoming years. Therefore, the consumption per capita is estimated to amount to 2.48 kilograms per capita in 2031. In general, the consumption per capita is estimated to be subject to fluctuation over the next years.Consumption per capita is a measure of the consumption or use of goods per person in a certain population. The figure can be calculated by dividing total consumption of a country or region by total population.Find more statistics on similar topics in Philippines with key insights such as per capita consumption of poultry meat and per capita consumption of pig meat.

Germans consumed around 52 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 120 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 4.5 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 15 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 88 percent of respondents to a survey on the topic stated they ate meat, and this is also the norm in other European countries.

This statistic shows the per capita consumption of beef in the United States from 2000 to 2024 and includes a forecast from 2025 to 2034. The U.S. per capita consumption of beef amounted to 58.1 pounds in 2023.

Meat consumption in France has evolved between 1970 and 2023. The per capita consumption of pig meat amounted to 30.5 kilograms in 2023 and the consumption of poultry meat to 28.9 kg, out of a total of 83.3 kilograms of meat.   What kind of meat are French people eating? Peak meat consumption per capita occurred in 1998. More broadly, the 1986-2002 period is when the French consumed the most meat, with a minimum consumption, on average, of 90 kilograms per inhabitant per year. Since the beginning of the 2000s, overall meat consumption has been decreasing in French households. The French are turning more and more to poultry, to the detriment of pork and beef.

This statistic shows the annual per capita consumption of meat by country group in 1980 and 2005 is compared. In the year 1980 developed countries consumed 73.6 kg of meat per capita per year.

Consumption of poultry in Mexico was estimated at 22.66 kilograms per capita in 2023. In that year, more poultry was consumed in Mexico than any other type of meat, followed at a wide margin by pork. Mexico's poultry market In recent years, household spending on poultry meat in Mexico has been increasing. Chicken meat production has thus experienced a rapid expansion. The lower cost of raising chickens and turkeys reflects in consumer prices, and partly explains its increasing popularity compared to other meats. This follows a preference towards poultry in the meat market, not only in Mexico, but also on a global scale. Red meat in Mexico In comparison to poultry, production of beef and veal has been growing at a slower rate in Mexico. The market is likely to see changes in the coming years, with beef and veal per capita consumption set to decrease in this Latin American country and fluctuate in the United States - the primary destination for Mexican bovine meat exports. Contrary to beef, per capita consumption of pork is expected to increase, however, it is also widely surpassed by that of poultry products. Overall, meat consumption in Mexico is likely to continue its upward trend.

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.

This statistic depicts the per capita consumption of meat products in China from 2017 to 2021 and forecasts until 2029. In 2021, Chinese consumed on average 45.1 kilograms of meat per person, an increase from around 44.4 kilograms in the year before.

This statistic shows the per capita consumption of poultry meat in the United States from 2010 to 2023, with an estimated figure for 2024, by type. The consumption of broiler meat in the U.S. amounted to 99.5 pounds per capita in 2023, and is forecast to increase slightly to 102 pounds by 2024.

Focusing on the forecast period: The consumption per capita of beef and veal in Indonesia was forecast to continuously increase within the next years. The beef consumption per capita is estimated to amount to 2.41 kilograms per capita in 2029. In general, the consumption per capita is estimated to be subject to fluctuation over the next years.Consumption per capita is the amount of a certain commodity used per person. The figure is derived by dividing total consumption by total population.Find more statistics on similar topics in Indonesia with key insights such as per capita consumption of pig meat.

The United Kingdom has experienced a shift in meat consumption since 2007. Beef, veal, pork, and sheep meat were down in consumption as of 2022. Poultry consumption grew between 2007 and 2022 but will likely stagnate close to the current levels of 30.5 kilograms per person.

This statistic shows the per capita consumption of meat by region in 2000 and a forecast for 2050. In 2000, 20 kg of meat per person was consumed in the region of Central/West Asia and North Africa.