In 2024, around **** percent of responding German consumers between 18 and 64 years of age followed a vegan diet. In Brazil, China, Mexico, and the U.S., between two and **** percent of respondents ate vegan diets. The noteworthy standout is India, where about ******* of respondents said they typically follow a vegan diet. The survey was carried out in four quarterly waves among online users. Veganism in the European Union The share of adults following a vegan diet in the European Union (EU) varies considerably among the different generations. According to a recent survey, Gen Z had the highest share of vegans in the EU, with approximately **** percent. In comparison, among Generation X and the Baby Boomers, the share of vegans was only *** percent. In general, the share of vegans in the EU tends to be higher among younger generations. The number of vegans in the EU is forecast to grow from about *** million in 2023 to almost *** million by 2033. Veganism in Germany Germany has a particularly high share of young adults who are vegan or vegetarian, as compared to other European countries. Approximately *** and ****** percent of young adults in Germany classify themselves as vegan or vegetarian, respectively. Moreover, being vegan in Germany has become considerably easier over the years. The number of vegan restaurants in Germany has almost ********** throughout the last decade, adjusting to the growing demand for alternatives to animal products. While there were only *** purely vegan restaurants in 2014, a total of *** vegan restaurants were counted in 2024. The growing demand for animal alternatives can also be observed in the production volume of vegetarian and vegan meat substitutes in Germany. The volume of vegetarian and vegan meat substitutes produced has grown from approximately ****** tons in 2019 to about ******* tons in 2023.

In four surveys carried out between during 2024, approximately **** percent of people in the U.S. aged between 18 and 19 said they were following a vegan diet. The share of vegans among respondents aged between 40 and 49 was at ***** percent. Veganism in the U.S. Consumers who follow a vegan diet do not eat or drink any products derived either wholly or partly from animals. Besides moral concerns about animal welfare, there are many other reasons for only consuming vegan products. The second most common reason for becoming vegan or pursuing a non-meat diet is to have a healthier diet. Meat-substitute products in the United States The main reasons for eating meat-substitutes are that consumers consider them healthier than meat products, or think that they benefit the environment. Nearly ** percent of surveyed consumers in the U.S. are consuming meat-substitute products once a month or more often. About ** percent of Americans have increased their consumption of protein by eating more meat substitutes.

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 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, 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.

There were approximately 1.3 million Canadians who followed a vegetarian diet in 2015. A further 0.7 million consumers classed themselves as vegan in Canada. The highest rates of vegetarianism and veganism were found in British Columbia in that year, whilst the lowest rates were found in the Atlantic and Prairies regions. What is the difference between vegetarian and vegan? Someone who is vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish or shellfish. Veganism is a stricter form of vegetarianism: vegans do not eat any animal or animal-derived products. This includes any dairy products, eggs, gelatin etc. Those who follow more stringent vegan diets may also cut out foods such as honey. People can have various motives for following such diets, including religious, health, environmental and moral reasons. Plant-based substitutes in Canada Those following a vegetarian or vegan diet may choose to include more plant-based meat and/or dairy substitutes in their diet. Retail sales of meat substitutes were forecast to reach around 148.9 million U.S. dollars by 2022 in Canada, a projected increase of over 40 million dollars from 2019. According to a recent survey, some 80 percent of Canadian respondents who had tried plant-based meat alternatives either loved or liked the taste.

As of March 2018, British Columbia was the Canadian province with the highest rates of vegetarianism and veganism. Some *** percent of survey respondents in British Columbia stated that they were vegetarian, whilst some *** percent claimed to be vegan. The Prairies had the lowest rate of vegetarianism, and the Atlantic region had the lowest rate of veganism.

What is the difference between vegetarian and vegan?

Someone who is vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish or shellfish. Veganism is a stricter form of vegetarianism: vegans do not eat any animal or animal-derived products. This includes any dairy products, eggs, gelatin etc. Those who follow more stringent vegan diets may also cut out foods such as honey. People can have various motives for following such diets, including religious, health, environmental and moral reasons.

Opinions on plant-based foods in Canada

In a recent survey, some 43 percent of Canadian stated that they would eat a plant-based substitute for meat. Females aged between 18 and 34 are the demographic most likely to view eating more plant-based foods and products as a positive choice. Despite British Columbia having the highest levels or vegetarianism and veganism, Canadians in the Atlantic provinces are most likely to view eating more plant-based foods positively.

More and more consumers are adopting vegetarian and vegan diets in the United States. Where only *** percent of Americans over the age of 50 consider themselves vegetarian, *** percent of Millennials and Gen Z have given up meat. The same goes for veganism, where the younger generations have taken on the diet at nearly double the rate of older Americans. Plant-based diets A vegetarian diet is one which excludes the consumption of meat and in some cases animal-derived foods such as eggs and milk. A vegan diet is characterized by abstaining from the consumption of all animal products, which can extend to products like honey as well. People who adopt these diets do so for either ethical, dietary, environmental concerns, or a combination of all three. While there are health benefits attributed to these diets, primarily a lower incidence of heart disease, they must be carefully constructed in order to receive the nutrients that are normally ingested from animal products. A recent survey of Millennial American consumers showed that the purported health benefits of a meat-free diet was the main reason for adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet. Plant-based food sales Sales of plant-based foods experienced rapid growth in 2018. Compared to the previous year, plant-based meals sales grew by ** percent and meat alternatives by ** percent. The sales values of these categories were worth *** million and *** million dollars respectively. Milk alternatives are still the highest selling segment of plant-based foods, valued at *** billion dollars in 2018.

During a survey carried out between January and December 2023, approximately * percent of French people aged between 18 and 19 said they were following a vegan diet. The share of vegans among respondents aged between 40 and 49 was at ***** percent. Veganism among young people in Europe The share of vegans of approximately * percent among people aged between 18 and 19 is quite similar in comparison to other European countries. By comparison, the share is approximately *** percent among people aged between 18 and 19 in both Italy and Spain. However, in Germany that figure is lower and amount to ***** percent among people from the same demographic. Market for meat-substitutes in France The perceptions of plant-based proteins among surveyed French people was that they are healthy, good for the environment, and a good alternative to animal products. Among the many types of plant-based food, milk substitute products generate by far the highest market value. Soy and pea are the most popular plant-based food ingredients. Other common ingredients used for making plant-based products are rice, almond, cashew, oats, and coconuts. Among the plant-based products offered by manufacturers in France, plant-based steaks were particularly popular among survey respondents.

When it comes to the consumption of vegan diet in selected countries worldwide, India tops the list followed by Singapore. ** percent of consumers from India as well as * percent from Singapore state that they follow this diet. Statista Consumer Insights offer you all results of our exclusive Statista surveys, based on more than ********* interviews.

Animal welfare topped the list of motivations for vegetarians and vegans of why they follow their diet in the United States. The survey, from early 2024, found that roughly ** percent of respondents named this as a one of the reasons they currently follow their diet.

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.

What is the share of vegetarian and vegan individuals in Italy? From 2014 to 2024, the share of vegetarian people in Italy showed some fluctuations. According to the survey, *** percent of respondents declared to be vegetarian in 2014. Whereas, this value went up to *** percent in 2024. The share of Italian vegan individuals more than tripled during this period. For instance, *** percent of the interviewees claimed to be vegan in Italy in 2024. Reasons behind vegetarianism and veganism in Italy There are undoubtedly several reasons for becoming vegetarian or vegan. In 2021, most Italian vegetarians or vegans chose to change their dietary lifestyle mainly due to their personal philosophy of life. Secondly, many respondents claimed to have made this choice for health reasons, or out of respect for animals. The profile of vegetarian people in Italy Although the share of vegetarians in Italy decreased from 2014 to 2023, vegetarianism was more common than veganism in Italy as of 2023. Furthermore, most Italian vegetarians were aged between 25 and 34 years old. There were less vegetarian men than women. Finally, they came especially from the macro-regions of the North-East, and the Center of Italy.

In 2025, about **** percent of respondents from Switzerland followed a vegan diet and ate no animal products whatsoever. The Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom shared the second place in a Europe-wide ranking at approximately **** percent.

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.

In 2024, about **** million people in Germany were either vegetarians or largely forgo meat consumption. Since 2014, the number of people identifying as either complete or nearly complete vegetarians has grown noticeably. Trends in German meat consumption Per capita meat consumption in Germany has changed in recent years. Except for poultry, pork and beef saw noticeable annual decreases. Consumption of meat and sausage products, for which the country is well known, varied by product, giving rise to the idea that Germans are no longer totally hesitant to give up on meat or sausages. The German vegetarian and vegan meat Substitute market The decline in German meat consumption is accompanied by a rise in the production of vegan and vegetarian meat substitutes. In 2021, close to ******* tons of these alternatives were produced in Germany. Just in the two since 2019 this production has grown by almost ****** tons. In monetary value, this means a production of meat substitutes worth close to *** million euros.

According to 47 percent of survey respondents who took part in Veganuary 2025 worldwide, animals were the leading motivation to try the vegan diet. In a survey carried out four years earlier, 44 percent stated the same. Other participants were motivated by personal health reasons (20 percent) and the environment (14 percent). These three reasons are commonly the main motivators in most Western cultures for going vegan or vegetarian.

During a survey carried out in June 2023, approximately **** percent of Germans aged between 20 and 29 said they were following a vegan diet. The share of vegans among respondents aged between 50 and 64 was at close to **** percent. Veganism in Germany Germany’s share of young adults who follow a vegan diet is one of the highest in Europe. In 2021, the number of people who ate meat substitute products several times a week amounted to approximately *** million people in Germany. Furthermore, more than ******* people ate meat substitutes daily. The most widely tried meat substitute is tofu. Other popular choices include soy meat and black beans. Consumption of dairy substitutes in Germany The consumption of milk substitutes in Germany reached around *** million kilograms in 2020. This figure is forecast to more than double by 2026. In 2020, the retail revenue from vegan dairy substitutes in Germany amounted to over *** million euros. Vegan milk alternatives make up most of the share, as compared to cheese and yogurt. The most popular alternative to conventional milk is oat milk. Milk alternatives made from almond, soy, and coconut are also among the more popular types of milk substitutes consumed in Germany. The main reason for not eating dairy products among German consumers is animal protection. Climate or environment protection are the second most frequently stated reasons, followed by lactose intolerance.

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.

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.