In the United Kingdom, the share of those following a vegetarian diet was highest among the 18 to 19-year-olds at eight percent. Among respondents 60 to 64 years of age, the share of vegetarians was only **** percent. This data for 2025 aggregates the results of **** survey waves carried out during 2024 and 2025.

In 2024, the number of vegans was estimated to be *** million. Based on survey results, another *** million intend to follow the diet in the future. A combined **** million more are going meatless and either follow a vegetarian, vegan, or pescetarian diet. How many vegans are there really? Due to the small share of vegans in a population, it is often difficult to get a reliable estimate of how many vegans can be found in any given population. Often the margin of error in a survey is larger than the share of vegans found. In the United States, for example, depending on the survey, you can find survey results ranging from *** to **** percent of the population. Across Europe, the overwhelming majority of countries have ***** percent or less of their population following a vegan diet. Healthy eating & Veganism In the United Kingdom, consumers cite health reasons among the top factors that might encourage them to adapt a vegan or vegetarian diet. Almost a quarter of women named health reasons, while ** percent of their male counterparts had a similar standpoint. For men, this made it the leading reason, while women named animal welfare as high as health. Consumers in the United States who have already adopted a vegan or vegetarian diet also frequently named the desire to eat healthier as one of the reasons they adopted their current diet. Two in five vegans and vegetarians in the U.S. named healthier eating, only animal welfare ranked slightly higher.

In 2025, about **** percent of responding 20 to 29-year-olds in the United Kingdom stated that they followed a vegan diet. Respondents under fifty were **** likely to be vegans than those over. With small shares of the population, it is often difficult to track the number of actual vegans, as an error of only one percent in a survey can significantly change the size of the expected vegan population. Veganism worldwide Global interest in veganism has increased during the last decades. In January 2022, Just under 630 thousand people participated in Veganuary, a global campaign to get people to only eat vegan food during January, led by a British non-profit organization. By comparison, the figure was ***** in 2016. According to a survey, India has the largest share of vegans worldwide, as about ** percent of the population follows a vegan diet. India is followed by China and the United States (U.S.), where the share of vegans is approximately * and * percent, respectively. Veganism in the UK Wales, Scotland, and London are the regions where more consumers than in the rest of the country want to participate in Veganuary. In Wales, the share of survey respondents that said it wanted to try to follow a vegan diet was ***** percent. In the other two regions it was *** percent. The south of England showed the least interest overall. The interest in Veganuary is especially high among the youngest consumers, as ** percent of 18 to 24-year-olds have decided to take part in the challenge and live a vegan lifestyle for the entire month. The share of vegans in the United Kingdom (UK) varies among regions. The largest share of vegans in the UK can be found in London, at **** percent. The share of vegans in Scotland is approximately * percent. As with interest in Veganuary, the South brings up the rear.

In 2025, the largest share of vegans, at *** percent, could be found in London. In contrast, the smallest proportion of the population that identified themselves as vegan could be found in the Rest of the South and the Midlands. Here the share of vegans was close to *** percent. Scotland and Wales showed a share of vegans twice as high as the Midlands. Other facts about Veganism in the UK It is estimated that about *** million people in the UK followed a vegan diet in 2024. The exact number is disputed and can vary from source to source; however, it seems clear that the number of vegans has been growing. Other estimates put the share of vegans at ***** percent of the UK internet population (excluding children and seniors over 65), which would put the number of vegans at around *** million in 2025. Ethical motivations and healthier living are the main drivers for becoming a vegan in the UK. A growing importance of ethical consumerism Ethical dimensions increasingly drive consumer spending, whether these are animal-welfare and environmental concerns - in the case of veganism and vegetarianism in particular - or concerns for human rights and social justice. Average household spending on ethical food in the UK has reached ****** million British pounds.

In December 2024, Generation Z was the generation with the highest share of responding adults who planned not to eat meat in the coming year in Great Britain (GB). Approximately ******* stated that they did not intend to eat meat in 2025. Another **** percent of Gen Z respondents stated that they were already meat-free. Reduction in the meat consumption of British consumers Recently, there have been noticeable changes in meat consumption by consumers in the United Kingdom (UK). Almost ********* of survey respondents stated that they eat less or much less meat, as compared to half a year ago. Moreover, an average of approximately ** percent of British respondents had recently purchased plant-based alternatives for the first time. This was higher than the share of respondents who had done so in the United States and Germany, which was on average around ** and ** percent, respectively. Not only are meat alternatives tried by many new consumers in the UK, but such products are also consumed across all generations, with relatively low variations. The share of consumers who eat meat substitutes in the UK by generation was ** percent among respondents from Generation Z. Veganism in Great Britain According to a recent survey in the UK, the share of vegans is approximately ***** percent. There is no discernable difference among the share of vegans when it comes to gender. Moreover, an average of about ** percent of adults in the UK follow no nutritional rules or diets. Among the different regions in GB, the percentage of vegans slightly varies. In London, the share of people who follow a vegan diet tends to be particularly high, whereas the share of vegans in the Midlands and the rest of the South tends to be relatively low. The main reason for being vegan in the UK is an ethical motivation. Almost ** percent of survey respondents stated that they do not consume animal products because they are concerned with the welfare of animals. Environmental reasons were also considered by about **** of respondents.

In the last survey wave carried out in the United Kingdom, ***** percent of respondents stated that they follow a vegetarian diet. They did not eat meat and also did not consume fish. All waves aggregate the data of the current survey and the ***** surveys preceding the last. The respondent numbers are for the **** surveys aggregated in a wave.

This statistic displays the proportion of individuals following a vegetarian or vegan diet in the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2012. During the period in question, three percent of individuals aged between 19 and 64 years old were following a vegetarian diet, however 97 percent were following neither a vegetarian or a vegan diet.For more recent numbers focusing on adults click here.

As of 2019, the largest share of population, at *** percent, who followed a vegetarian diet was in the Inner London. In contrast, the smallest proportion of population was to be found in the East Midlands and North West.

India has the highest share of vegetarians in the country compared to other select countries in 2024, according to the Statista Consumer Insight survey. Over a ***** of Indian respondents reported following a vegetarian diet, compared to only ***** percent in the United Kingdom. Meat substitutes market in Europe The United Kingdom and Germany hold second and third place respectively for the highest share of vegetarians in the country. Both countries have also increased their production of vegetarian and vegan meat substitutes in recent years. Germany’s meat substitute production increased by over ** percent between 2019 and 2021 and amounted to ******* metric tons. Consumption in the UK is forecast to exceed ******* metric tons by 2028. Health and wellness food trends Cutting out meat and animal byproducts is one of many health and wellness trends adopted by consumers to lead a healthier lifestyle. Other wellness trends include reducing sugar intake, using supplements such as vitamins or probiotics, and purchasing organic products. Globally, the functional and natural health food market is expected to reach ***** billion U.S. dollars by 2026, and it is likely this trend will only continue to grow.

In the United Kingdom, about ***** percent of female respondents stated that they follow a vegan diet. The displayed data on diets and nutrition shows the results of the Statista Global Consumer Survey conducted in the UK in 2024 and 2025. The displayed data shows the aggregated results of four survey waves.

In the most recent survey wave in 2025 that aggregates four surveys, the share of respondents stating they are vegan was ***** percent. Over the period presented, the share of the United Kingdom’s population that declared being vegan was approximately ***** to **** percentage points.

The retail sales of vegetarian products and plant-based alternatives in the United Kingdom amounted to an estimated **** billion British pounds in 2022. Sales peaked in 2020 during the pandemic and collapsed in 2021. The market seems to have returned to pre-pandemic levels and might continue the trend seen before it was majorly disrupted. Meatless diets in the United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, the share of vegans was estimated to be around **** percent. This puts the country into the top five European countries with the biggest share of vegans. Pescetarians and Vegetarians add to this number so that the total of UK consumers following a meat free diet is around ** percent. Younger consumers are more likely than any other age group to attempt to live meat free. About ** percent of members of Generation Z stated that they wanted to live meat free in 2023. For millennials, the same share was slightly over a quarter of survey respondents. For older generations, it was progressively less. The European market for meat substitutes In 2022, the United Kingdom was the second-largest meat substitute market in Europe. Since the start of the pandemic, Germany has taken the top spot as Europe’s leading meat substitute market. The Netherlands lands on rank three in front of Italy. The UK generated *** million euros in sales. Germany, exceeded this number by over *** million euros. The overall market for meat alternatives in the European Union came to about *** billion U.S. dollars. It is forecast to pass the ***** billion euro mark in 2028.

As of 2019, the demographic group in Great Britain that was most commonly adhering to a vegan diet were females aged between 18 and 34 years, at ***** percent of the population. Veganism is a practice of eliminating any use of animal products in a diet or in other forms of use.

As of December 2024, ** percent of polled consumers in Great Britain stated that they were vegan due to an animal welfare concerns. These vegans view farming methods and killing of animals as cruel. Furthermore, approximately ** percent responded that they followed such a diet, because of physical personal health reasons. The environment came third as a major reason to be vegan. Veganism in the heat of the UK During a survey series from Q2 2024 to Q1 2025, ***** percent of survey respondents in the UK stated that they were vegans. Urban centers see more vegans than rural areas. For comparison. London's population has a share of *** percent of vegans, while the Midlands only have *** percent. In 2023, another three percent of Londoners, who were not already vegan, said they wanted at least try to live vegan for the month of January during the Veganuary campaign. Generational diet changes: the spread of meat-free living When looking at those who forego meat, younger consumers are more likely than any other age group to adopt such a lifestyle. Generation Z has more than double the share of consumers that have stopped eating meat, than the silent generation. However, it also has an enormous share of consumers who wish to go meat free in the future.

A study conducted in 2019 revealed specific perceptions about vegetarianism and veganism in the UK. 80.6 percent of respondents assessed the vegetarianism as acceptable, while only 59.6 percent of respondents did the same in the case of veganism. Additionally, the vegetarian diet was deemed as more nutritious than the vegan one (63.6 vs. 41.5 percent).

In a series of surveys conducted in 2024, roughly ** percent of Indian respondents indicated that they typically follow a diet that excludes meat. These individuals reported adhering to vegan, vegetarian, or pescetarian lifestyles, reflecting a strong preference for plant-based or seafood-only diets among a substantial portion of the population. What kind of diets that cut or reduce meat are there? Among the most popular meat-free diets are flexitarian, pescatarian, and vegan. The flexitarian diet is the least restrictive, focusing on vegetarian foods while occasionally allowing meat and fish. The pescatarian diet includes vegetarian foods along with fish and seafood. In contrast, veganism is the most restrictive, being entirely plant-based and excluding all animal products. Meat substitute products, or alternatives, are a popular replacement for meat. In Germany, millennials and Gen Z are the most likely to regularly consume substitutes. Meat-free diets in the UK and Great Britain In April 2023, around ** percent of individuals surveyed in the United Kingdom indicated their agreement with the statement, "Generally speaking, meat-free diets are more beneficial for the environment." In comparison, a mere **** percent of respondents voiced strong disagreement with this perspective, suggesting a significant portion of the population recognizes the environmental advantages of reducing meat consumption. In January 2024, Generation Z in Great Britain represented the highest percentage of adults planning to cut meat from their diets in the coming year. Approximately ** percent of respondents stated their intention to avoid meat in 2024, while an equal percentage reported already adhering to a meat-free lifestyle.

When surveyed in December of 2021 in the United Kingdom, about three percent of vegans said they have been vegans for over 30 years. Of the responding vegetarians about ** percent have been vegans for ten years or more.

As of January 2019, just under ** percent of the population identified themselves as meat-eaters in the United Kingdom (UK). Approximately **** percent described themselves as flexitarian or semi-vegetarian. The third most popular dietary choice, with around ***** percent, was lacto-ovo-vegetarianism.

Veganism in the UK

Due to the small share of vegans in the overall population and due to the margin of error in surveys, it is difficult to exactly pinpoint the share of vegans. Other sources put the share of vegans in Great Britain at *** percent or at roughly ******* persons as of 2018. The main reason for becoming vegan were ethical motivations, including animal welfare and environmental concerns.

Dietary trends in the UK

London was the center for all food trends in the UK that aimed to reduce or eliminate meat, fish or animal product consumption, whether vegans, flexitarians, pescatarians or vegetarians. A significant number of consumers consider reducing their consumption of the above-mentioned products. To supply demand, a notable industry has established itself to deliver on suitable products for these consumers. In 2017, sales revenues of vegetarian products amounted to about *** million British pounds in the United Kingdom alone. The market for these products and meat substitutes is likely to grow far beyond that in the coming decades.

In 2025, Germany had ***************** of polled individuals aged between 18 and 29 years of age who were vegetarian or vegan in Europe. All countries had a share of vegetarians that was******* than the share of vegans. Environmental issues In Europe in 2024, ** percent of consumers that stopped, reduced, or have never eaten red meat were motivated by **********************. Reducing consumption of meat and dairy products would likely be a somewhat efficient method of reducing the environmental impact of the agricultural industry on the planet. In the UK, greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural industry amounted to approximately ** million metric tons in 2024. For comparison, in 2022, total emissions in the EU were about *** million metric tons. European perspectives The meat-free market is **************** in Germany, where the sales value of meat substitutes is expected to reach approximately *** billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2030. At the same time, meat consumption in Germany ************************** and is likely to continue to do so. The overall European trend is similar.

During a survey conducted among vegetarians and vegans in Great Britain in 2021, it was reported that the main reasons for adopting these new dietary habits were animal-welfare concerns. Environmental concerns were expressed by approximately ** percent of respondents as a reason to chose a vegan life style. Among vegetarian respondents this number was ** percent lower.