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
- 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.
- Sheep meat output worldwide hit 15.8 million tonnes in 2021.
- Goat meat production globally was 6.2 million tonnes in 2022.
- Duck meat consumption worldwide reached 4.8 million tonnes in 2021.
- Turkey meat production totaled 5.5 million tonnes globally in 2022.
- Global chicken meat share of total meat: 41% in 2022.
- Beef share of global meat production: 16% in 2021.
- Pork accounted for 36% of world meat output in 2022.
- Other meats (incl. rabbit, game) totaled 2.5 Mt globally in 2021.
- Processed meat consumption worldwide: 50 million tonnes in 2020.
- Fresh meat production globally: 310 Mt in 2022.
- Bacon and ham production from pork: 20 Mt worldwide in 2021.
- Sausages global output: 15 Mt in 2022.
- Global beef carcass production: 45 Mt in 2022.
- Poultry broiler production: 100 Mt meat equivalent in 2023.
- Pigmeat production growth: 1.2% annually for pork globally.
- Lamb meat consumption: 8 Mt worldwide in 2021.
- Global venison production: 0.5 Mt in 2022 estimates.
- Horse meat consumption totaled 0.4 Mt globally in 2021.
- Rabbit meat output: 1.6 Mt worldwide in 2022.
- Global chicken nuggets production: 10 Mt processed in 2023.
- Beef burger patties global volume: 12 Mt in 2022.
- Pork sausage links production: 8 Mt worldwide.
- Poultry wings consumption: 5 Mt globally in 2021.
- Global beef jerky market: 0.3 Mt in 2022.
- Mutton curry meat use: 3 Mt in production worldwide.
By 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
- 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.
- Brazil's beef production hit 10 million tonnes in 2022.
- India's poultry consumption grew to 5 million tonnes in 2023.
- Russia's pork production reached 6 million tonnes in 2021.
- Australia's meat exports were 2.5 million tonnes in 2022.
- Mexico's total meat consumption: 8 million tonnes in 2021.
- Japan's per capita meat intake was 52 kg in 2022.
- Argentina consumed 55 kg meat per capita annually in 2021.
- Nigeria's poultry production: 1.2 million tonnes in 2022.
- Germany's pork consumption: 4 million tonnes in 2021.
- South Korea's beef imports: 0.4 million tonnes in 2022.
- Canada's total meat output: 4.5 million tonnes in 2023.
- Egypt's poultry consumption: 1.5 million tonnes in 2021.
- Vietnam's pork production: 3.5 million tonnes in 2022.
- UK's meat consumption fell to 75 kg per capita in 2022.
- Indonesia's total meat intake: 2 million tonnes in 2021.
- Thailand's poultry exports: 0.8 million tonnes in 2022.
- Philippines meat consumption: 2.2 million tonnes in 2023.
- Turkey's poultry production: 2.3 million tonnes in 2021.
- South Africa's beef output: 0.7 million tonnes in 2022.
- Iran's sheep meat consumption: 0.9 million tonnes in 2021.
- United Arab Emirates meat imports: 0.6 million tonnes in 2022.
- Saudi Arabia's poultry consumption: 1.4 million tonnes in 2023.
- New Zealand lamb exports: 0.5 million tonnes in 2021.
By 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
- 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.
- Total global poultry meat production hit 137 million tonnes in 2022.
- Beef and veal production worldwide amounted to 60 million metric tons in 2021.
- Global pork production stood at 110 million tonnes in 2022.
- World sheep meat production reached 15.5 million tonnes in 2021.
- Total meat imports globally were 32 million tonnes in 2020.
- Global meat exports totaled 31 million tonnes in 2022.
- In 2019, world meat consumption per capita averaged 43.2 kg.
- Global meat production grew by 2.1% annually from 2010-2020.
- Total value of global meat market was $1.45 trillion in 2023.
- World meat supply reached 368 million tonnes in 2023 projections.
- Global carcass weight equivalent meat production was 350 Mt in 2021.
- Total meat processed globally exceeded 200 million tonnes in 2022.
- World meat consumption volume hit 362 Mt in 2022 estimates.
- Global meat production index rose 15% from 2010 to 2020.
- Total poultry consumption worldwide was 134 Mt in 2021.
- Beef consumption globally totaled 58 Mt in 2022.
- Pork consumption reached 108 Mt worldwide in 2021.
- Global mutton and goat meat production was 16 Mt in 2022.
- World meat trade value surpassed $200 billion in 2022.
- Total global meat demand projected at 370 Mt by 2025.
- Global meat output per capita increased to 46 kg in 2022.
- World meat production capacity utilization was 85% in 2021.
- Total meat slaughtered globally: 80 billion animals in 2020.
- Global meat packaging market size for consumption was $250B in 2022.
- World meat consumption share in protein intake: 40% in 2021.
- Global meat production emissions linked to 14.5% of total GHG in 2019.
- Total global meat retail sales volume: 300 Mt in 2023.
Global 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
- 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.
- China's per capita meat consumption reached 62 kg in 2022.
- Brazil's per capita beef consumption: 35 kg in 2021.
- India's per capita meat intake: 4.5 kg in 2022.
- Australia's per capita meat consumption: 90 kg in 2021.
- Japan's per capita chicken consumption: 15 kg in 2022.
- Russia's per capita pork intake: 25 kg in 2021.
- Argentina per capita total meat: 115 kg in 2022.
- Nigeria per capita poultry: 1.2 kg in 2021.
- Germany's per capita meat: 75 kg in 2022.
- South Korea per capita beef: 15 kg in 2021.
- Canada per capita total meat: 85 kg in 2022.
- Mexico per capita poultry: 40 kg in 2021.
- Vietnam per capita pork: 30 kg in 2022.
- UK per capita meat consumption: 78 kg in 2021.
- Indonesia per capita meat: 12 kg in 2022.
- Thailand per capita chicken: 20 kg in 2021.
- Global per capita poultry consumption rose to 15 kg in 2022.
- World average beef per capita: 8.5 kg in 2021.
- Global pork per capita consumption: 13 kg in 2022.
- Per capita sheep meat worldwide: 1.8 kg in 2021.
- Urban vs rural per capita meat gap: 20% higher in cities globally.
Per 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
- 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 pork production forecast to rise 10% from 2022-2032.
- Beef consumption projected to stagnate at 58 Mt globally until 2030.
- Developing countries meat demand to grow 1.7% annually to 2030.
- Global per capita meat consumption to reach 46 kg by 2030.
- Meat production growth rate slowed to 1.4% annually 2017-2021.
- Plant-based meat market to grow 20% yearly to 2030 globally.
- Global meat trade volume projected to increase 12% by 2030.
- Poultry production growth: 2% per year through 2032 worldwide.
- Pork output to recover 1.5% in 2023 after ASF impacts.
- Beef production growth limited to 0.5% annually to 2030.
- Meat consumption in Asia to rise 25% by 2030.
- Global sheep meat production stable at 15-16 Mt to 2030.
- COVID-19 reduced global meat consumption by 2% in 2020.
- Inflation-adjusted meat prices rose 5% globally in 2022.
- Lab-grown meat market projected to $25B by 2030.
- Organic meat consumption growing 8% annually worldwide.
- Halal meat market to expand 6% yearly to $3T by 2030.
- Vegan meat alternatives up 27% in sales globally 2022.
- Global meat waste estimated at 20% of production in 2021.
- Antibiotic use in meat production down 10% since 2017 globally.
- Meat consumption growth shifts to Africa: 3% annual to 2050.
- Global meat production peaked in 2022 per some models.
Trends/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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