Global meat production reached 277 million tonnes in 2022, yet that growth sits alongside a mounting mix of climate, health, and price pressures. Some countries are eating far more than others, while major systems still lose 44% of food through the value chain and foodborne illness continues to cause serious harm. What looks like a simple consumption trend turns out to be a network of land use, emissions, market shifts, and risk that varies sharply by country and product.
Key Takeaways
- 277 million tonnes global meat production in 2022, up from 266 million tonnes in 2021
- At least 70% of agricultural land is used for livestock-related purposes (FAO; includes grazing and feed)
- Meat and dairy account for about 60% of total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the livestock sector (IPCC AR6 summarized in IPCC/FAO livestock mitigation materials)
- Poultry’s carbon footprint is estimated at about 3–6 kg CO2e per kg of meat (FAO livestock environmental assessment summary)
- 10.2 kg per capita global cattle meat consumption in 2021
- In Japan, 30.8 kg per capita meat consumption in 2022
- In OECD countries, meat consumption is projected to increase by 3% from 2021 to 2031
- In 2023, US retail prices: pork chops rose 2% year-over-year while chicken breast decreased 6% year-over-year (consumer price index components)
- In 2024, the OECD expects global meat prices to stabilize after prior increases (OECD Agricultural Outlook 2024)
- Indonesia loses 44% of food through the value chain (FAO analysis; includes perishable meats)
- In 2021, the global beef market size was estimated at $330.9 billion (GlobalData/industry estimate; widely cited market sizing)
- In 2022, the global poultry meat market was estimated at $369.4 billion (industry sizing estimate reported by Research and Markets via GlobeNewswire)
- In 2022, the global pork market size was estimated at $280.4 billion (industry sizing estimate reported by Research and Markets via GlobeNewswire)
- In 2022, CDC estimates 3,000 deaths per year in the US due to foodborne illness
- In 2022, USDA-FSIS reported 642 recalls/withdrawals related to meat and poultry products (recall data)
Meat production is rising, with heavy land and emissions impacts alongside ongoing food safety and health risks.
Related reading
01 · Category
Production Volumes1 stats
01
277 million tonnes global meat production in 2022, up from 266 million tonnes in 2021[1]
Interpretation
Production Volumes Interpretation
Production volumes show steady growth in global meat output, rising from 266 million tonnes in 2021 to 277 million tonnes in 2022.
02 · Category
Environmental Impact5 stats
01
At least 70% of agricultural land is used for livestock-related purposes (FAO; includes grazing and feed)[2]
02
Meat and dairy account for about 60% of total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the livestock sector (IPCC AR6 summarized in IPCC/FAO livestock mitigation materials)[3]
03
Poultry’s carbon footprint is estimated at about 3–6 kg CO2e per kg of meat (FAO livestock environmental assessment summary)[2]
04
Livestock occupies about 30% of the Earth’s land area as grazing and feed production (FAO livestock report)[2]
05
In 2019, global greenhouse gas emissions were 59.1 GtCO2e; food systems accounted for about 34% (including meat) (IPCC AR6 WGIII)[3]
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
For the Environmental Impact angle, the key trend is that livestock drives outsized climate and land pressures, using over 70% of agricultural land for livestock and producing about 60% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the livestock sector.
03 · Category
Per Capita Consumption2 stats
Interpretation
Per Capita Consumption Interpretation
For per capita consumption, global cattle meat averaged 10.2 kg per person in 2021 while Japan reached 30.8 kg per person for meat in 2022, showing Japan’s per person intake is far higher than the global level.
04 · Category
Industry Trends3 stats
01
In OECD countries, meat consumption is projected to increase by 3% from 2021 to 2031[1]
02
In 2023, US retail prices: pork chops rose 2% year-over-year while chicken breast decreased 6% year-over-year (consumer price index components)[5]
03
In 2024, the OECD expects global meat prices to stabilize after prior increases (OECD Agricultural Outlook 2024)[1]
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
From an industry trends perspective, OECD meat consumption is expected to rise by 3% between 2021 and 2031 while global meat prices are forecast to stabilize in 2024, as US retail pork chops edged up 2% and chicken breast fell 6% year over year in 2023.
05 · Category
Food Waste & Loss1 stats
01
Indonesia loses 44% of food through the value chain (FAO analysis; includes perishable meats)[2]
Interpretation
Food Waste & Loss Interpretation
Indonesia’s food system wastes 44% of food across the value chain, underscoring how major losses, including in perishable meats, drive the Food Waste & Loss challenge.
More related reading
06 · Category
Market Size & Spending6 stats
01
In 2021, the global beef market size was estimated at $330.9 billion (GlobalData/industry estimate; widely cited market sizing)[6]
02
In 2022, the global poultry meat market was estimated at $369.4 billion (industry sizing estimate reported by Research and Markets via GlobeNewswire)[6]
03
In 2022, the global pork market size was estimated at $280.4 billion (industry sizing estimate reported by Research and Markets via GlobeNewswire)[6]
04
Global per-capita spending on animal protein increased in 2022; the share of consumer food budgets devoted to meat is tracked in OECD/FAO demand datasets (OECD Food Data)[1]
05
In Canada, meat and poultry sales were CA$26.2 billion in 2023 (Statistics Canada retail trade by commodity category)[7]
06
In 2021, global meat processing market revenue exceeded $500 billion (industry sizing commonly used in market research summaries)[6]
Interpretation
Market Size & Spending Interpretation
The Market Size and Spending picture is dominated by scale, with global beef at $330.9 billion in 2021, poultry at $369.4 billion and pork at $280.4 billion in 2022, and meat processing revenue topping $500 billion in 2021, showing that consumer spend on animal protein is concentrated in large, still-expanding markets rather than niche categories.
07 · Category
Food Safety & Compliance3 stats
01
In 2022, CDC estimates 3,000 deaths per year in the US due to foodborne illness[8]
02
In 2022, USDA-FSIS reported 642 recalls/withdrawals related to meat and poultry products (recall data)[9]
03
In 2022, ESBL-producing E. coli were detected in 11.8% of fattening pigs in EU monitoring (EFSA zoonoses and AMR report)[10]
Interpretation
Food Safety & Compliance Interpretation
In the US, food safety remains a major risk as CDC estimates about 3,000 deaths each year from foodborne illness alongside 642 meat and poultry recall or withdrawal actions reported by USDA FSIS in 2022, while in the EU monitoring ESBL producing E. coli shows up in 11.8% of fattening pigs, underscoring the ongoing compliance challenge from farm to food.
08 · Category
Consumption Patterns6 stats
01
36% of consumers reported they eat fish at least once per week (food-choice frequency).[11]
02
In 2023, South Korea’s per-capita meat consumption was 56.3 kg (annual per-person consumption).[12]
03
In 2023, Australia’s per-capita meat consumption was 92.9 kg (annual per-person consumption).[12]
04
In 2022, China’s per-capita chicken consumption was 12.5 kg (per-person consumption).[12]
05
In 2023, the UK per-capita meat consumption was 65.7 kg (annual per-person consumption).[12]
06
In 2023, France’s per-capita meat consumption was 82.5 kg (annual per-person consumption).[12]
Interpretation
Consumption Patterns Interpretation
Across these consumption patterns, fish appears in the weekly routines of 36% of consumers while annual per-capita meat intake varies widely by country, ranging from 56.3 kg in South Korea to 92.9 kg in Australia.
09 · Category
Regulation & Safety1 stats
01
Globally, 33 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were estimated to be caused by foodborne diseases each year (WHO estimate).[13]
Interpretation
Regulation & Safety Interpretation
Under the Regulation and Safety lens, the WHO estimates that foodborne diseases cause 33 million disability-adjusted life years globally each year, underscoring the ongoing need for stronger safety controls to reduce preventable harm.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Meat Consumption Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/meat-consumption-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Meat Consumption Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/meat-consumption-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Meat Consumption Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/meat-consumption-statistics.
Sources & references
13 sources cited across this report