Which country eats the most meat?

The United States leads at approximately 124 kg per person per year, nearly three times the global average.

What is the environmental impact of meat?

Livestock production generates approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and uses 77% of agricultural land while providing only 18% of calories.

Global Average Meat Consumption

Last updated: January 29, 2026

43.2 kg

kg/year

The global average meat consumption is approximately 43.2 kg per person per year. The United States leads at 124 kg/year, while India is the lowest among major nations at 4.4 kg due to widespread vegetarianism.

Historical Trend

Source: FAO

Global Average Meat Consumption by Country

Country	Value (kg/year) ↓	Source
United States	124.1	USDA
Australia	116.2	ABS
Brazil	100.2	IBGE
France	85.1	FranceAgriMer
United Kingdom	79.4	DEFRA
Germany	77.8	BLE
Russia	76.6	Rosstat
United Arab Emirates	73	FAO
South Korea	63.5	KREI
China	61.8	FAO
Saudi Arabia	55	FAO
Japan	52.3	MAFF
Pakistan	14.7	PBS
Nigeria	8.6	FAO
India	4.4	FAO

Why This Average Exists

Meat consumption data is crucial for understanding dietary health patterns, environmental impact (livestock generates ~14.5% of global GHG emissions), and food security.

Factors That Affect Global Average Meat Consumption

Income levels
Cultural and religious traditions
Livestock production capacity
Feed crop availability
Environmental awareness
Urbanization

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology & Data Sources

The data presented on this page is compiled from publicly available datasets published by international organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations, NASA, and national statistical agencies.

Global averages are calculated using population-weighted or arithmetic means depending on the metric. Country-level data reflects the most recent available figures, typically from 2024–2024. Where gaps exist, the latest available data point is used.

All figures are subject to revision as source organizations update their datasets. For the most authoritative data, we encourage consulting the original sources linked in the table above.