From the colossal figure of 80 billion animals slaughtered annually to a global production value eclipsing a trillion dollars, the staggering scale of modern meat consumption is reshaping our planet and plates.
Key Takeaways
- Global meat production reached 367 million metric tons in 2022, marking a 1.4% increase from the previous year.
- World meat consumption totaled approximately 360 million tonnes in 2021, equivalent to 45 kg per capita.
- In 2020, global meat output was valued at over $1.3 trillion USD.
- Global beef production reached 60.5 million metric tons in 2022.
- World poultry meat consumption was 137 million tonnes in 2022.
- Pork production globally totaled 111 million tonnes in 2023.
- Global meat consumption in the United States reached 39.5 kg per capita in 2022.
- China's meat consumption totaled 95 million tonnes in 2022.
- EU meat production was 45 million tonnes in 2021.
- Global per capita meat consumption averaged 43.7 kg in 2019.
- US per capita meat consumption was 124 kg in 2022.
- EU average per capita meat intake: 68 kg in 2021.
- Global meat consumption per capita doubled from 28 kg in 1961 to 43 kg in 2014.
- World meat production expected to grow 14% by 2030 to 373 Mt.
- Poultry meat to account for 46% of global production by 2030.
Global meat production and consumption continue to rise significantly worldwide.
By Meat Type
1Global beef production reached 60.5 million metric tons in 2022.
Verified2World poultry meat consumption was 137 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified3Pork production globally totaled 111 million tonnes in 2023.
Verified4Sheep meat output worldwide hit 15.8 million tonnes in 2021.
Directional5Goat meat production globally was 6.2 million tonnes in 2022.
Single source6Duck meat consumption worldwide reached 4.8 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified7Turkey meat production totaled 5.5 million tonnes globally in 2022.
Verified8Global chicken meat share of total meat: 41% in 2022.
Verified9Beef share of global meat production: 16% in 2021.
Directional10Pork accounted for 36% of world meat output in 2022.
Single source11Other meats (incl. rabbit, game) totaled 2.5 Mt globally in 2021.
Verified12Processed meat consumption worldwide: 50 million tonnes in 2020.
Verified13Fresh meat production globally: 310 Mt in 2022.
Verified14Bacon and ham production from pork: 20 Mt worldwide in 2021.
Directional15Sausages global output: 15 Mt in 2022.
Single source16Global beef carcass production: 45 Mt in 2022.
Verified17Poultry broiler production: 100 Mt meat equivalent in 2023.
Verified18Pigmeat production growth: 1.2% annually for pork globally.
Verified19Lamb meat consumption: 8 Mt worldwide in 2021.
Directional20Global venison production: 0.5 Mt in 2022 estimates.
Single source21Horse meat consumption totaled 0.4 Mt globally in 2021.
Verified22Rabbit meat output: 1.6 Mt worldwide in 2022.
Verified23Global chicken nuggets production: 10 Mt processed in 2023.
Verified24Beef burger patties global volume: 12 Mt in 2022.
Directional25Pork sausage links production: 8 Mt worldwide.
Single source26Poultry wings consumption: 5 Mt globally in 2021.
Verified27Global beef jerky market: 0.3 Mt in 2022.
Verified28Mutton curry meat use: 3 Mt in production worldwide.
VerifiedBy Meat Type Interpretation
The world's appetite, meticulously parsed by species and sausage, reveals a planet where chicken reigns supreme (41%), pigs are a close second (36%), and our collective craving for processed convenience is etched in 10 million tonnes of nuggets and 12 million tonnes of burger patties.
By Region/Country
1Global meat consumption in the United States reached 39.5 kg per capita in 2022.
Verified2China's meat consumption totaled 95 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified3EU meat production was 45 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified4Brazil's beef production hit 10 million tonnes in 2022.
Directional5India's poultry consumption grew to 5 million tonnes in 2023.
Single source6Russia's pork production reached 6 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified7Australia's meat exports were 2.5 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified8Mexico's total meat consumption: 8 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified9Japan's per capita meat intake was 52 kg in 2022.
Directional10Argentina consumed 55 kg meat per capita annually in 2021.
Single source11Nigeria's poultry production: 1.2 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified12Germany's pork consumption: 4 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified13South Korea's beef imports: 0.4 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified14Canada's total meat output: 4.5 million tonnes in 2023.
Directional15Egypt's poultry consumption: 1.5 million tonnes in 2021.
Single source16Vietnam's pork production: 3.5 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified17UK's meat consumption fell to 75 kg per capita in 2022.
Verified18Indonesia's total meat intake: 2 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified19Thailand's poultry exports: 0.8 million tonnes in 2022.
Directional20Philippines meat consumption: 2.2 million tonnes in 2023.
Single source21Turkey's poultry production: 2.3 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified22South Africa's beef output: 0.7 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified23Iran's sheep meat consumption: 0.9 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified24United Arab Emirates meat imports: 0.6 million tonnes in 2022.
Directional25Saudi Arabia's poultry consumption: 1.4 million tonnes in 2023.
Single source26New Zealand lamb exports: 0.5 million tonnes in 2021.
VerifiedBy Region/Country Interpretation
The world is carving up its dinner plate into an astonishingly carnivorous atlas, proving that while tastes in cuts may vary, humanity’s collective appetite for meat remains a heavyweight champion of global trends.
Global Totals
1Global meat production reached 367 million metric tons in 2022, marking a 1.4% increase from the previous year.
Verified2World meat consumption totaled approximately 360 million tonnes in 2021, equivalent to 45 kg per capita.
Verified3In 2020, global meat output was valued at over $1.3 trillion USD.
Verified4Total global poultry meat production hit 137 million tonnes in 2022.
Directional5Beef and veal production worldwide amounted to 60 million metric tons in 2021.
Single source6Global pork production stood at 110 million tonnes in 2022.
Verified7World sheep meat production reached 15.5 million tonnes in 2021.
Verified8Total meat imports globally were 32 million tonnes in 2020.
Verified9Global meat exports totaled 31 million tonnes in 2022.
Directional10In 2019, world meat consumption per capita averaged 43.2 kg.
Single source11Global meat production grew by 2.1% annually from 2010-2020.
Verified12Total value of global meat market was $1.45 trillion in 2023.
Verified13World meat supply reached 368 million tonnes in 2023 projections.
Verified14Global carcass weight equivalent meat production was 350 Mt in 2021.
Directional15Total meat processed globally exceeded 200 million tonnes in 2022.
Single source16World meat consumption volume hit 362 Mt in 2022 estimates.
Verified17Global meat production index rose 15% from 2010 to 2020.
Verified18Total poultry consumption worldwide was 134 Mt in 2021.
Verified19Beef consumption globally totaled 58 Mt in 2022.
Directional20Pork consumption reached 108 Mt worldwide in 2021.
Single source21Global mutton and goat meat production was 16 Mt in 2022.
Verified22World meat trade value surpassed $200 billion in 2022.
Verified23Total global meat demand projected at 370 Mt by 2025.
Verified24Global meat output per capita increased to 46 kg in 2022.
Directional25World meat production capacity utilization was 85% in 2021.
Single source26Total meat slaughtered globally: 80 billion animals in 2020.
Verified27Global meat packaging market size for consumption was $250B in 2022.
Verified28World meat consumption share in protein intake: 40% in 2021.
Verified29Global meat production emissions linked to 14.5% of total GHG in 2019.
Directional30Total global meat retail sales volume: 300 Mt in 2023.
Single sourceGlobal Totals Interpretation
The sheer, trillion-dollar scale of our global appetite for meat—clocking in at nearly a pound per person per day and climbing relentantly, while shouldering a hefty portion of the planet's climate burden—suggests we might just be what we eat, and we're eating the future.
Per Capita
1Global per capita meat consumption averaged 43.7 kg in 2019.
Verified2US per capita meat consumption was 124 kg in 2022.
Verified3EU average per capita meat intake: 68 kg in 2021.
Verified4China's per capita meat consumption reached 62 kg in 2022.
Directional5Brazil's per capita beef consumption: 35 kg in 2021.
Single source6India's per capita meat intake: 4.5 kg in 2022.
Verified7Australia's per capita meat consumption: 90 kg in 2021.
Verified8Japan's per capita chicken consumption: 15 kg in 2022.
Verified9Russia's per capita pork intake: 25 kg in 2021.
Directional10Argentina per capita total meat: 115 kg in 2022.
Single source11Nigeria per capita poultry: 1.2 kg in 2021.
Verified12Germany's per capita meat: 75 kg in 2022.
Verified13South Korea per capita beef: 15 kg in 2021.
Verified14Canada per capita total meat: 85 kg in 2022.
Directional15Mexico per capita poultry: 40 kg in 2021.
Single source16Vietnam per capita pork: 30 kg in 2022.
Verified17UK per capita meat consumption: 78 kg in 2021.
Verified18Indonesia per capita meat: 12 kg in 2022.
Verified19Thailand per capita chicken: 20 kg in 2021.
Directional20Global per capita poultry consumption rose to 15 kg in 2022.
Single source21World average beef per capita: 8.5 kg in 2021.
Verified22Global pork per capita consumption: 13 kg in 2022.
Verified23Per capita sheep meat worldwide: 1.8 kg in 2021.
Verified24Urban vs rural per capita meat gap: 20% higher in cities globally.
DirectionalPer Capita Interpretation
The world's dinner plate is a vastly unequal landscape, where the average American cheerfully consumes a small steer per year while in many nations a single chicken must stretch to feed a dozen.
Trends/Projections
1Global meat consumption per capita doubled from 28 kg in 1961 to 43 kg in 2014.
Verified2World meat production expected to grow 14% by 2030 to 373 Mt.
Verified3Poultry meat to account for 46% of global production by 2030.
Verified4Global pork production forecast to rise 10% from 2022-2032.
Directional5Beef consumption projected to stagnate at 58 Mt globally until 2030.
Single source6Developing countries meat demand to grow 1.7% annually to 2030.
Verified7Global per capita meat consumption to reach 46 kg by 2030.
Verified8Meat production growth rate slowed to 1.4% annually 2017-2021.
Verified9Plant-based meat market to grow 20% yearly to 2030 globally.
Directional10Global meat trade volume projected to increase 12% by 2030.
Single source11Poultry production growth: 2% per year through 2032 worldwide.
Verified12Pork output to recover 1.5% in 2023 after ASF impacts.
Verified13Beef production growth limited to 0.5% annually to 2030.
Verified14Meat consumption in Asia to rise 25% by 2030.
Directional15Global sheep meat production stable at 15-16 Mt to 2030.
Single source16COVID-19 reduced global meat consumption by 2% in 2020.
Verified17Inflation-adjusted meat prices rose 5% globally in 2022.
Verified18Lab-grown meat market projected to $25B by 2030.
Verified19Organic meat consumption growing 8% annually worldwide.
Directional20Halal meat market to expand 6% yearly to $3T by 2030.
Single source21Vegan meat alternatives up 27% in sales globally 2022.
Verified22Global meat waste estimated at 20% of production in 2021.
Verified23Antibiotic use in meat production down 10% since 2017 globally.
Verified24Meat consumption growth shifts to Africa: 3% annual to 2050.
Directional25Global meat production peaked in 2022 per some models.
Single sourceTrends/Projections Interpretation
Despite our collective and comically earnest efforts to ethically debate our dinner plates, humanity is marching—or perhaps clucking and oinking—steadily toward a 2030 world where poultry reigns supreme, plant-based options surge, and the only thing not growing as fast as the global appetite for meat is our consumption of beef.
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