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 **** pounds in 2023.

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 **** pounds per capita in 2023, and was estimated to decrease slightly in 2024.

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.

The timeline shows the per capita consumption of red meat in the United States from 2017 to 2023, with a projection from 2024 until 2034. The consumption of red meat in the U.S. amounted to ***** pounds per capita in 2023.

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.

Per capita beef consumption represents the total retail weight of beef available for consumption per person per year. Data is sourced from the US Department of Agriculture.

The statistic shows the per capita consumption of boneless red meat in the United States in 2023, by type. According to the report, the U.S. per capita consumption of beef amounted to approximately 55.5 pounds that year.

This product provides information on the per capita consumption of meats (beef, veal, mutton/lamb, pork and poultry) in Canada and United States for a thirty-year period. Trend of Beef and Poultry consumption comparison is included.

United States Long Term Projections: Per Capita Meat Consumption: Total Red Meat data was reported at 109.949 lb in 2034. This records an increase from the previous number of 109.867 lb for 2033. United States Long Term Projections: Per Capita Meat Consumption: Total Red Meat data is updated yearly, averaging 109.867 lb from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2034, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 111.600 lb in 2022 and a record low of 106.804 lb in 2027. United States Long Term Projections: Per Capita Meat Consumption: Total Red Meat 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.

Per capita meat consumption represents the total retail weight of red meat and poultry meat consumed by the average American in one year. Data is sourced from the US Department of Agriculture.

United States Long Term Projections: Per Capita Meat Consumption: Red Meat & Poultry data was reported at 236.599 lb in 2034. This records an increase from the previous number of 235.694 lb for 2033. United States Long Term Projections: Per Capita Meat Consumption: Red Meat & Poultry data is updated yearly, averaging 229.515 lb from Dec 2022 (Median) to 2034, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 236.599 lb in 2034 and a record low of 225.400 lb in 2023. United States Long Term Projections: Per Capita Meat Consumption: Red Meat & Poultry 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.

By 2033, beef and veal consumption in Argentina is expected to amount to approximately ***** kilograms per person, the highest amount among the countries presented. Chile is expected to follow with ***** kilograms per person consumed.

The total beef production in the United States is estimated to be 26.96 billion pounds in 2023, down from 28.29 billion pounds in the previous year. Over the last two decades, the total U.S. beef production has fluctuated slightly but remained stable overall.

Beef retail in the United States Beef has the highest retail sales of any fresh meat in the United States, as of 2021. In that year, over 30 billion U.S. dollars worth of fresh beef were sold in the United States. The retail price for 100 percent ground beef in the United States was 4.8 U.S. dollars per pound in 2022, up from 3.95 U.S. dollars in 2020. Beef brisket, on the other hand, was priced on average around 8.84 U.S. dollars per pound in major grocery retailers.

U.S. beef consumption The United States consumes more beef than any other country in the world. Consumption of beef amounted to around 59 pounds per capita on an annual basis. This was projected to decrease slowly until 2032.

Beef consumption in the United States reached a new high in 2021, when ** billion pounds were consumed. This is an increase in consumption of about *** percent compared to the previous year and the highest consumption recorded during the period under consideration. United States beef production The United States is the world’s top producer of beef and veal. In 2022, production exceeded **** million metric tons. To keep up with the production demand, the U.S. was home to about ** million beef cows in 2022, more than three times the number of dairy cows recorded that year. The shift towards plant-based foods There is a large trend among Generation Z consumers to adopt a more vegetarian or vegan diet. Over half of Gen Z consumers are mostly vegetarian, at a minimum, as of 2022. ** percent, however, are completely vegan, meaning they eat no animal products at all. With this shift away from animal proteins, it is no surprise that the consumption of meat substitutes is expected to exponentially grow within the next several years. By 2027, U.S. meat substitute consumption is forecast to reach ***** million kilograms.

The food demands of the United States (US) impart significant environmental pressures. The high rate of consumption of beef has been shown to be the largest driver of food-borne greenhouse gas emissions, water use and land occupation in the US diet. The environmental benefits of substituting animal products with vegetal foods are well documented, but significant psychological barriers persist in reducing meat consumption. Here we use life cycle assessment to appraise the environmental performance of a novel vegetal protein source in the mean US diet where it replaces ground beef, and in vegetarian and vegan diets where it substitutes for legumes, tofu and other protein sources. We find that relative to the mean US diet, vegetarian and vegan diets significantly reduce per-capita food-borne greenhouse gas emission (32% and 67%, respectively), blue water use (70% and 75%, respectively) and land occupation (70% and 79%, respectively), primarily in the form of rangeland. The substitution of 10%, 25% and 50% of ground beef with plant-based burger (PBB) at the national scale results in substantial reductions in annual US dietary greenhouse gas emissions (4.55–45.42 Mt CO2 equivalents), water consumption (1.30–12.00 km3) and land occupation (22300–190100 km2). Despite PBB’s elevated environmental pressures compared to other vegetal protein sources, we demonstrate that minimal risk exists for the disservices of PBB substitution in non-meat diets to outweigh the benefits of ground-beef substitution in the omnivorous American diet. Demand for plant-based oils in PBB production has the potential to increase land use pressures in biodiversity hotspots, though these could be obviated through responsible land stewardship. Although the apparent environmental benefits of the PBB are contingent on actual uptake of the product, this study demonstrates the potential for non-traditional protein substitutes to play a role in a transition towards more sustainable consumption regimes in the US and potentially abroad.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Beef: All Consumer Units (CXUBEEFLB0101M) from 1984 to 2023 about consumer unit, meat, expenditures, and USA.

This product provides information on the per capita consumption of meats (beef, veal, mutton/lamb, pork and poultry) in Canada and United States for a thirty-year period. Trend of Beef and Poultry consumption comparison is included.

North America Red Meat Market size was valued at USD 117.2 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 138.4 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 1.90 % from 2024 to 2031.

North America Red Meat Market Dynamics

The key market dynamics that are shaping the North America red meat market include:

Key Market Drivers Increasing Per Capita Meat Consumption: The average American consumed around 224.8 pounds of red meat and poultry in 2022, with red meat accounting for approximately 110 pounds of this total, according to USDA Economic Research Service statistics. This is a growth over prior years, indicating robust consumer demand despite health and environmental concerns.

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.

The global beef market, valued at $207.54 billion in 2025, is projected to experience steady growth, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.2% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is driven by several factors. Increasing global population and rising disposable incomes in developing economies fuel demand for protein-rich foods, including beef. Changing consumer preferences towards premium beef cuts and value-added products like processed meats also contribute to market expansion. Furthermore, advancements in beef production techniques, including improved breeding and feeding practices, enhance efficiency and output. However, the market faces challenges such as fluctuating feed prices, environmental concerns related to livestock farming (particularly methane emissions), and the increasing popularity of plant-based meat alternatives. The market's segmentation reveals a dynamic interplay between offline and online distribution channels, with online sales steadily gaining traction, particularly among younger consumers seeking convenience and broader selection. Major players like JBS SA, Tyson Fresh Meats, and Cargill Inc. leverage their established distribution networks and brand recognition to maintain market leadership. Competitive strategies focus on product diversification, brand building, and strategic acquisitions to secure market share and expand into new geographic regions. Risk factors include geopolitical instability impacting supply chains, animal disease outbreaks, and regulatory changes concerning food safety and environmental regulations. The regional breakdown shows varied growth potential. North America, with its established beef industry and high per capita consumption, is anticipated to maintain a significant market share. However, rapidly developing economies in APAC, particularly China and India, represent significant growth opportunities due to their burgeoning middle class and increasing demand for high-quality protein sources. Europe and South America will continue to contribute to the overall market, although growth rates may vary depending on specific economic and regulatory conditions in each region. The ongoing competition among leading companies will intensify, necessitating continuous innovation in production, processing, and marketing to adapt to shifting consumer preferences and address emerging challenges within the beef industry. Understanding these dynamics is critical for stakeholders in navigating the complex landscape of the global beef market and capitalizing on future growth prospects.