A new map shows the countries with the highest meat consumption, the world’s largest meat consumers and the differences in global consumption.
The amount of meat consumed in different countries depends on dietary habits, religious and cultural values, and the amount of total food consumed and can vary considerably.
Based on data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Population Review has compiled a ranking of the countries that consume the most meat per capita. The map can be seen here from Newsweek.
While the amount of meat consumed largely correlates with the total amount of food consumed, there are some significant outliers.
At 136.31 kilograms (301 pounds) per capita, Hong Kong eats more meat annually than any other country in the world. Residents have a particular fondness for pork and chicken, which account for over 80 percent of the meat consumed, as it is a staple of Cantonese cuisine.
Not only is Hong Kong the biggest meat lover, it also consumes more pork than any other country: 55.24 kilograms per capita per year. Israel eats the most poultry at 64.9 kilograms, while people in Kazakhstan eat the most lamb at 8.5 kilograms per capita per year.
However, according to a 2018 study by the Faculty of Geosciences at the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s love of meat is the main reason for the city-state’s disproportionately high greenhouse gas emissions.
The authors outlined that switching Hong Kong’s meat-heavy diet to one “in line with government dietary guidelines” could lead to a 67 percent reduction in emissions associated with livestock farming and help the country meet the goals set out in its 2030 Climate Action Plan.
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In second place is the USA with an annual per capita consumption of 128.63 kilograms.
Its position on the list is not surprising, since according to research organization Out World in Data, based at the University of Oxford, America’s daily per capita calorie intake (3,911) is higher than any other country.
Close behind are Australia with 121.53 kilograms per capita and Mongolia with 111.56 kilograms.
According to the World Population Review, Argentina consumes 110.16 kilograms of meat per capita annually, making it the fifth largest meat consumer in the world. The country consumes more beef than any other and its steak is considered one of the best in the world.
However, triple-digit inflation, a recession and rising poverty have forced Argentines to curtail their love of beef.
According to the Economic Forum of the Rosario Chamber of Commerce, Argentina’s beef consumption is expected to fall to its lowest level since records began in 1914 in 2024.
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Argentina’s vast grasslands provide ideal conditions for cattle ranching, but the livestock sector is having a negative impact on the country’s carbon neutrality ambitions and economic prospects.
In June, Argentina’s Beef Promotion Institute introduced a new certification system to ensure that all beef exported from the country was produced without deforestation.
This comes in anticipation of a new European Union regulation due to come into force in December, which will require that all products consumed on the EU market must be produced in a sustainable manner.
This map-based analysis of global meat consumption not only reveals regional dietary preferences, but also raises important questions about sustainability and the future of food. Given the global challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, understanding and potentially changing meat consumption patterns could play a crucial role in limiting the damage.
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