GITNUXREPORT 2025

Milk Industry Statistics

Global dairy industry grows, faces challenges, adopts innovation, shifts toward alternatives.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

The price of milk has increased by approximately 25% globally between 2021 and 2023 due to supply chain disruptions

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Milk spillage during transportation accounts for about 2% of total milk production losses globally

Statistic 3

The dairy industry is responsible for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, mostly methane from cows

Statistic 4

The use of antibiotics in dairy cattle has been reduced by 15% globally since 2015 due to stricter regulations

Statistic 5

Dairy industry waste management has improved over the past decade, with recycling and biogas conversion increasing by 20%

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The dairy industry employs over 300 million people globally

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The average dairy farm size in India is about 2.2 cows per farm

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The proportion of women involved in dairy farming worldwide is approximately 45%, indicating significant gender participation in the industry

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The average age of dairy farmers globally is over 50 years, indicating an aging workforce

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The global dairy market was valued at approximately $629 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow steadily

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The global organic dairy market size was valued at approximately $25 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 10%

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New Zealand’s dairy industry contributes around 23% of the country's total exports

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The Kraft Heinz Company is one of the leading dairy product manufacturers globally

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China’s dairy market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 8% from 2022 to 2027

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Plant-based milk sales in the U.S. grew by over 20% in 2022, indicating increasing consumer shift toward alternatives

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The global yogurt market is projected to reach $107 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.5%

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The dairy industry in Europe is worth approximately €100 billion annually

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Dairy exports from the European Union totaled approximately €29 billion in 2021, making it the world's largest exporter of dairy products

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The demand for organic dairy products is increasing at a CAGR of around 10% globally

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The global ice cream market is projected to reach $137 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.4%

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The global infant formula market is estimated to reach $39 billion by 2028, with sustained growth driven by rising birth rates and increasing disposable income

Statistic 22

The organic segment of dairy accounts for approximately 10% of total dairy sales in the US, reaching over $3 billion in sales in 2022

Statistic 23

The trend toward plant-based dairy alternatives is expected to continue, with the segment projected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% through 2027

Statistic 24

The global dairy free product market is projected to reach $35 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 9%

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The global demand for milk protein concentrates is growing at a CAGR of 8%, driven by sports nutrition and infant formula markets

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The technological adoption in dairy farming, such as automated milking systems, has increased by 40% in the last decade

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Dairy industry investments in R&D have increased by approximately 12% annually over the past five years, highlighting innovation trends

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Global milk production reached approximately 852 million tonnes in 2021

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India is the world's largest producer of milk, accounting for about 22% of global milk production in 2021

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The United States is the largest consumer of milk and dairy products globally

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The average global milk consumption per capita was around 117 liters in 2021

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More than 300 million smallholder farmers are involved in milk production worldwide

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Global cheese production capacity reached 22 million tonnes in 2020

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The U.S. produced approximately 222 billion pounds of milk in 2021

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The average shelf life of pasteurized milk is around 2 weeks when stored properly

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Lactose intolerance affects approximately 65% of the world's population, influencing global dairy consumption patterns

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The global production of butter is approximately 4.4 million tonnes per year

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The average dairy farm in the U.S. has about 250 cows

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In Africa, dairy is a primary source of protein for around 35% of the population

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Milk powder accounts for about 15% of global milk production, mainly used in processed foods and infant nutrition

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The use of probiotic dairy products like kefir and yogurt is on the rise, with the probiotic segment growing at a CAGR of 8%

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The consumption of milk in Russia is about 300 liters per capita annually, which is below the global average

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Milk processing capacity in developing countries has increased by 30% over the last decade to meet rising demand

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The average milk fat content in whole milk is about 3.25%, used as a standard in many dairy regulations

Statistic 45

The world's largest dairy cattle breed is the Holstein, known for its high milk yield

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Key Highlights

  • Global milk production reached approximately 852 million tonnes in 2021
  • India is the world's largest producer of milk, accounting for about 22% of global milk production in 2021
  • The United States is the largest consumer of milk and dairy products globally
  • The global dairy market was valued at approximately $629 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow steadily
  • The average global milk consumption per capita was around 117 liters in 2021
  • More than 300 million smallholder farmers are involved in milk production worldwide
  • The dairy industry employs over 300 million people globally
  • The global organic dairy market size was valued at approximately $25 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 10%
  • The average dairy farm size in India is about 2.2 cows per farm
  • New Zealand’s dairy industry contributes around 23% of the country's total exports
  • Global cheese production capacity reached 22 million tonnes in 2020
  • The price of milk has increased by approximately 25% globally between 2021 and 2023 due to supply chain disruptions
  • The U.S. produced approximately 222 billion pounds of milk in 2021

From India’s dominance as the world’s top milk producer to the soaring global dairy market valued at over half a trillion dollars, the milk industry is experiencing rapid growth, innovation, and shifts in consumer preferences that are transforming how we produce, consume, and think about dairy worldwide.

Environmental and Supply Chain Issues

  • The price of milk has increased by approximately 25% globally between 2021 and 2023 due to supply chain disruptions
  • Milk spillage during transportation accounts for about 2% of total milk production losses globally
  • The dairy industry is responsible for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, mostly methane from cows
  • The use of antibiotics in dairy cattle has been reduced by 15% globally since 2015 due to stricter regulations
  • Dairy industry waste management has improved over the past decade, with recycling and biogas conversion increasing by 20%

Environmental and Supply Chain Issues Interpretation

With milk prices soaring by 25% amidst supply chain woes, dairy’s environmental footprint persists—contributing 4% of greenhouse gases—yet strides in antibiotic reduction and waste recycling hint at a more sustainable hoarse ahead.

Industry Employment and Demographics

  • The dairy industry employs over 300 million people globally
  • The average dairy farm size in India is about 2.2 cows per farm
  • The proportion of women involved in dairy farming worldwide is approximately 45%, indicating significant gender participation in the industry
  • The average age of dairy farmers globally is over 50 years, indicating an aging workforce

Industry Employment and Demographics Interpretation

With over 300 million people tied to the dairy industry worldwide, a surprisingly small number of cows per farm in India, nearly half of the farmers being women, and an aging workforce over 50, the dairy sector epitomizes both global interconnectedness and the urgent need for generational renewal.

Market Size and Value

  • The global dairy market was valued at approximately $629 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow steadily
  • The global organic dairy market size was valued at approximately $25 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 10%
  • New Zealand’s dairy industry contributes around 23% of the country's total exports
  • The Kraft Heinz Company is one of the leading dairy product manufacturers globally
  • China’s dairy market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 8% from 2022 to 2027
  • Plant-based milk sales in the U.S. grew by over 20% in 2022, indicating increasing consumer shift toward alternatives
  • The global yogurt market is projected to reach $107 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.5%
  • The dairy industry in Europe is worth approximately €100 billion annually
  • Dairy exports from the European Union totaled approximately €29 billion in 2021, making it the world's largest exporter of dairy products
  • The demand for organic dairy products is increasing at a CAGR of around 10% globally
  • The global ice cream market is projected to reach $137 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.4%
  • The global infant formula market is estimated to reach $39 billion by 2028, with sustained growth driven by rising birth rates and increasing disposable income
  • The organic segment of dairy accounts for approximately 10% of total dairy sales in the US, reaching over $3 billion in sales in 2022
  • The trend toward plant-based dairy alternatives is expected to continue, with the segment projected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% through 2027
  • The global dairy free product market is projected to reach $35 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 9%
  • The global demand for milk protein concentrates is growing at a CAGR of 8%, driven by sports nutrition and infant formula markets

Market Size and Value Interpretation

As the global dairy industry, valued at over half a trillion dollars, shifts and expands—fueled by organic growth, plant-based innovations, and booming markets from China to Europe—it's clear that whether cow or plant, the milk must flow, albeit with a few trendy alternatives steering the herd.

Product Development, Trends, and Innovations

  • The technological adoption in dairy farming, such as automated milking systems, has increased by 40% in the last decade
  • Dairy industry investments in R&D have increased by approximately 12% annually over the past five years, highlighting innovation trends

Product Development, Trends, and Innovations Interpretation

As automation and innovation surge—driven by a 40% boost in robotic milking and a steady 12% annual R&D investment hike—the dairy industry is clearly milking technological advancements to churn out more efficient and innovative products.

Production and Consumption Metrics

  • Global milk production reached approximately 852 million tonnes in 2021
  • India is the world's largest producer of milk, accounting for about 22% of global milk production in 2021
  • The United States is the largest consumer of milk and dairy products globally
  • The average global milk consumption per capita was around 117 liters in 2021
  • More than 300 million smallholder farmers are involved in milk production worldwide
  • Global cheese production capacity reached 22 million tonnes in 2020
  • The U.S. produced approximately 222 billion pounds of milk in 2021
  • The average shelf life of pasteurized milk is around 2 weeks when stored properly
  • Lactose intolerance affects approximately 65% of the world's population, influencing global dairy consumption patterns
  • The global production of butter is approximately 4.4 million tonnes per year
  • The average dairy farm in the U.S. has about 250 cows
  • In Africa, dairy is a primary source of protein for around 35% of the population
  • Milk powder accounts for about 15% of global milk production, mainly used in processed foods and infant nutrition
  • The use of probiotic dairy products like kefir and yogurt is on the rise, with the probiotic segment growing at a CAGR of 8%
  • The consumption of milk in Russia is about 300 liters per capita annually, which is below the global average
  • Milk processing capacity in developing countries has increased by 30% over the last decade to meet rising demand
  • The average milk fat content in whole milk is about 3.25%, used as a standard in many dairy regulations
  • The world's largest dairy cattle breed is the Holstein, known for its high milk yield

Production and Consumption Metrics Interpretation

With over 860 million tonnes produced globally in 2021, the dairy industry proves that while cow numbers like the Holstein's 250 per farm milk out, consumer tastes—ranging from the U.S.'s milk marathon to lactose intolerance affecting 65%—keep the industry churning across continents, with cheese, butter, and probiotic products riding the wave of a 8% CAGR, all amidst the quiet toil of over 300 million smallholder farmers whose livelihoods depend on this steady supply—making dairy not just a staple but a complex, global symphony of production, consumption, and cultural variation.