Who eats the most meat?
We see a clear link with wealth when looking at patterns of meat consumption across the world.
In 2013, the most recent year available, the US and Australia topped the tables for annual meat consumption. Alongside New Zealand and Argentina, both countries topped more than 100kg per person, the equivalent to about 50 chickens or half a cow each.
In fact, high levels of meat consumption can be seen across the West, with most countries in Western Europe consuming between 80 and 90 kilograms of meat per person.
At the other end of the spectrum, many of the world’s poorest countries eat very little meat.
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The average Ethiopian consumes just 7kg, Rwandans 8kg and Nigerians 9kg. This is 10 times less than the average European.
For those in low-income countries, meat is still very much a luxury.
These figures represent the amount of meat per head available for consumption, but do not account for any food wasted at home or on the shop floor. In reality, people eat slightly less meat than this, but it’s still a close estimate.
Middle-income countries driving the demand for meat
It is clear that the richest countries eat a lot of meat, and those on low incomes eat little.
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This has been the case for 50 years or more. So why are we collectively eating so much more meat?
This trend has been largely driven from a growing band of middle-income countries.
Rapidly growing nations like China and Brazil have seen significant economic growth in recent decades, and a large rise in meat consumption.
