Tonga currently has the highest meat consumption per capita, with approximately 148 kg per person annually, closely followed by Mongolia (132 kg). Other nations with exceptionally high meat intake include St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Hong Kong, and the United States, which all frequently feature in the top 5 globally.
Which countries eat the most meat? According to UN Food and Agriculture Organization data reported by website World Population Review, the United States, Argentina and Australia are in the top of the global meat-eating league with more than 110 kg consumed per capita in 2022.
Pork, for example, is the most consumed meat globally, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, making up 36% of the world's meat intake. The popularity of pork is closely followed by poultry, which is a staple in many countries due to its versatility and affordability.
After pork and chicken, beef is the third most popular meat consumed worldwide, making up 24% of all meat intake. The demand for beef is particularly high in certain regions, with countries like Argentina leading the world in per capita beef consumption. Every year, Argentinians consume 46.93 kg on average per person.
Which Country Eats The Most Meat? (According To Data)
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While chicken is the largest contributor to daily meat intake by volume and beef mince is a top-selling product, beef often tops polls for the most popular choice, especially for traditional meals like the Sunday roast, though pork (sausages, bacon) remains a strong family favourite. Trends show high consumption of white meat (chicken/turkey) and processed meats, but beef's versatility in dishes like Bolognese keeps it popular.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world (36%) followed by poultry (33%), beef (24%), and goats/sheep (5%).
Blacks had the highest annual total meat consumption (64.2 kg), followed by East Asians (53.6 kg), Whites (46.9 kg), and Hispanics (35.8 kg). Blacks ate significantly more chicken than the other ethnic groups (P < 0.001), and East Asians ate significantly more pork and processed meat (P < 0.001).
The number one most eaten food in the world by volume and staple status is rice, feeding over half the global population daily and providing essential energy, followed closely by other major staples like maize (corn) and wheat, which together with rice, form the basis of most human diets.
Religion also plays a role in dietary habits. Nearly all of the Muslim (99%), Christian (99%) and Buddhists/neo-Buddhist (97%) populations eat meat. Among Hindus, a little over three-quarters consume meat, while Jains and Sikhs have the highest share of vegetarians.
India. Three of India's major religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism — teach the practice of ahimsa, or non-violence towards all beings. Because of this religious tradition, India has the highest percentage of vegetarians out of all the countries in the world.
Hippopotamus. In the words of author and hunter Peter Hathaway Capstick, “It is my personal opinion that hippo meat is one of the finest of game foods … The taste is mild, less than lamb and more than beef, slightly more marbled than usual venison. It tastes exactly like, well, hippo.”
As for pork, dishes like tonkatsu (breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet), shabu-shabu (pork hot pot), and buta-don (pork rice bowl) are commonly found in Japanese cuisine. Overall, while seafood is the most consumed meat in Japan, chicken and pork also play significant roles in the country's culinary landscape.
Many of the indigenous people groups from northern North America have a traditional diet made up almost exclusively from animal products. The diets the Inuit and other Arctic people traditionally follow is often held up as evidence that a carnivorous diet can be healthy.
Argentine beef is widely regarded as the best beef globally, with its grass-fed and hormone-free farming methods resulting in leaner, healthier, and more flavorful meat.
Hong Kong boasts one of the world's highest average life expectancies (≈ 85.3 years) and—surprisingly—also one of the highest meat consumptions per person globally (about 664 g/day!).
Pork is the most widely consumed meat on Earth, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, making up 36 percent of the world's meat consumption. Poultry is a close second at 33 percent, but surprisingly beef only accounts for 24 percent of global meat consumption.
Well – most people are more astute than I was at that age but interestingly it is estimated that a staggering 84% of people who try a vegan or vegetarian diet go back to eating meat. Perhaps you have had this experience yourself?
The top consumer of pork in 2021 continued to be China, taking into account its special economic regions Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China, whose consumptions were about 61, 52, and 37 kg/inhabitant respectively.
Chicken remains the most consumed meat in America, with 118 pounds per capita annually. Its affordability, versatility, and perceived health benefits make it the top protein choice for consumers.
