GITNUXREPORT 2026

Ramen Industry Statistics

The instant ramen market is growing globally with strong demand across many countries.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

42% of millennials consume ramen 2-3 times weekly.

Statistic 2

68% of Gen Z prefer plant-based ramen options in 2023 surveys.

Statistic 3

Spicy flavors hold 60% preference among US ramen consumers.

Statistic 4

55% of consumers seek low-sodium ramen variants.

Statistic 5

Premium artisanal ramen appeals to 35% of high-income buyers.

Statistic 6

72% of Asian consumers prefer traditional tonkotsu broth.

Statistic 7

Vegan ramen demand rose 25% in Europe 2023.

Statistic 8

48% of parents buy ramen for children under 12.

Statistic 9

Health-conscious consumers (28%) opt for whole grain ramen.

Statistic 10

61% prefer customizable ramen kits at home.

Statistic 11

Chicken flavor dominates 40% of global preferences.

Statistic 12

37% of consumers influenced by social media ramen reviews.

Statistic 13

Sustainable packaging sways 52% of purchases.

Statistic 14

44% seek gluten-free ramen options.

Statistic 15

Older adults (50+) consumption up 18% for nostalgic flavors.

Statistic 16

70% of urban youth pair ramen with beer.

Statistic 17

E-commerce ramen sales grew 40% among 18-24 year olds.

Statistic 18

Global per capita instant ramen consumption averaged 15 servings in 2023.

Statistic 19

Vietnam leads with 73 servings per capita annual instant ramen consumption in 2022.

Statistic 20

Nigeria has 20 servings per capita consumption yearly.

Statistic 21

South Korea consumes 80 servings per capita per year.

Statistic 22

Japan per capita consumption is 40 servings annually.

Statistic 23

US average is 14 servings per capita per year.

Statistic 24

China consumes 30 servings per capita yearly.

Statistic 25

Indonesia per capita 55 servings.

Statistic 26

45% of US college students consume instant ramen weekly.

Statistic 27

In 2023, global instant ramen sales reached 123 billion servings.

Statistic 28

60% of instant ramen consumed worldwide is eaten at home.

Statistic 29

Late-night snacking accounts for 35% of ramen consumption in urban areas.

Statistic 30

25% of global ramen consumption is cup noodles vs. bag types.

Statistic 31

Women account for 52% of instant ramen buyers in supermarkets globally.

Statistic 32

70% of ramen consumed in Asia is spicy flavor variant.

Statistic 33

US ramen consumption up 15% post-pandemic in 2023.

Statistic 34

40% of Brazilians eat instant ramen monthly.

Statistic 35

Average household ramen consumption in India is 10 packs per month.

Statistic 36

55% of Vietnamese consume ramen daily.

Statistic 37

Europeans consume 5 servings per capita annually.

Statistic 38

65% of South Korean ramen eaten as midnight snack.

Statistic 39

Global ramen vending machine sales represent 2% of total consumption.

Statistic 40

30% increase in ramen home cooking during 2023 economic pressures.

Statistic 41

South Korea exported USD 850 million worth of instant ramen in 2023.

Statistic 42

China imported 500,000 tons of ramen ingredients in 2023.

Statistic 43

US imported 1.2 billion USD in instant ramen in 2023.

Statistic 44

Japan exported JPY 100 billion in ramen products 2023.

Statistic 45

Vietnam exported 200,000 tons of instant noodles in 2023.

Statistic 46

Indonesia's ramen exports to Middle East up 20% to USD 50 million.

Statistic 47

Thailand ramen exports reached THB 10 billion in 2023.

Statistic 48

EU imported EUR 300 million instant ramen from Asia 2023.

Statistic 49

Brazil imported 100,000 tons from Asia in 2023.

Statistic 50

Australia imported AUD 150 million ramen products.

Statistic 51

Philippines exported USD 20 million instant ramen regionally.

Statistic 52

India's ramen imports grew 15% to INR 2,000 crore.

Statistic 53

Canada imported CAD 200 million from US and Asia.

Statistic 54

Mexico ramen imports USD 150 million, mainly Korean.

Statistic 55

UK post-Brexit ramen imports EUR 100 million.

Statistic 56

Global ramen trade volume 2.5 million tons in 2023.

Statistic 57

Nongshim USA imports 80% of its supply from Korea.

Statistic 58

Top export destination for Korean ramen is China (30%).

Statistic 59

Instant ramen tariffs averaged 5-10% in major importers.

Statistic 60

Myanmar exported 50,000 tons to neighbors in 2023.

Statistic 61

The global instant ramen market was valued at USD 7.3 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 11.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.5%.

Statistic 62

In 2023, the U.S. instant ramen market generated approximately USD 1.02 billion in revenue.

Statistic 63

Japan's ramen market size reached JPY 1.2 trillion in 2022, with instant ramen contributing 40%.

Statistic 64

The Asia-Pacific region dominates the instant ramen market with a 75% share in 2023.

Statistic 65

Europe’s instant ramen sector grew by 8% YoY in 2023 to EUR 800 million.

Statistic 66

South Korea's ramen exports contributed KRW 1.1 trillion to the economy in 2023.

Statistic 67

The premium ramen segment in the US grew 12% in 2023, reaching USD 250 million.

Statistic 68

Global plant-based ramen market valued at USD 500 million in 2023, expected to double by 2028.

Statistic 69

India's instant noodles market expanded to INR 10,000 crore in FY2023.

Statistic 70

Vietnam's instant noodle consumption market worth VND 50 trillion in 2023.

Statistic 71

Brazil's ramen import market valued at BRL 1.5 billion in 2022.

Statistic 72

Australia’s instant ramen sales reached AUD 300 million in 2023.

Statistic 73

The organic ramen niche market in North America was USD 120 million in 2023.

Statistic 74

Thailand's domestic ramen market hit THB 40 billion in 2023.

Statistic 75

Global cup noodle segment accounted for 45% of instant ramen market share in 2023.

Statistic 76

UK instant ramen market grew to GBP 150 million in 2023.

Statistic 77

Indonesia's instant noodle market revenue was IDR 80 trillion in 2023.

Statistic 78

Canada's ramen market valued at CAD 400 million in 2023.

Statistic 79

Mexico's growing ramen market reached MXN 5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 80

The global instant ramen market produced 123.1 billion servings in 2023.

Statistic 81

Nissin Foods produced 4.5 billion packs of instant ramen in 2023 globally.

Statistic 82

In 2022, China manufactured 46.62 billion servings of instant noodles.

Statistic 83

Indonesia produced 16.15 billion servings of instant ramen in 2022.

Statistic 84

Vietnam's instant noodle production reached 9.08 billion packs in 2022.

Statistic 85

Japan manufactured 5.52 billion servings of instant ramen in 2022.

Statistic 86

South Korea produced 8.18 billion servings in 2022.

Statistic 87

India's instant noodle production was 7.97 billion servings in 2022.

Statistic 88

USA produced 4.40 billion servings of instant ramen in 2022.

Statistic 89

Thailand manufactured 5.43 billion servings in 2022.

Statistic 90

Philippines produced 3.04 billion servings in 2022.

Statistic 91

Myanmar's production hit 2.00 billion servings in 2022.

Statistic 92

Brazil produced 1.50 billion servings of instant ramen in 2022.

Statistic 93

Nigeria manufactured 1.20 billion servings in 2022.

Statistic 94

World Ramen Association reported 118.5 billion servings produced globally in 2022.

Statistic 95

Nongshim Co. produced 3.2 billion units in South Korea in 2023.

Statistic 96

Indofood (Indonesia) output 12 billion packs annually as of 2023.

Statistic 97

Acecook Vietnam produced 4.5 billion servings in 2023.

Statistic 98

Uni-President (Taiwan) manufactured 2.8 billion packs in 2023.

Statistic 99

Ottogi produced 2.1 billion servings in South Korea 2023.

Statistic 100

Maruchan USA produced 2.5 billion servings in 2023.

Statistic 101

Prima Food (Myanmar) output 1.8 billion in 2023.

Statistic 102

MAMA (Thailand) brand produced 3.5 billion servings in 2023.

Statistic 103

Top Ramen India production reached 4 billion packs in 2023.

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If you thought ramen was just a quick college meal, think again—these humble noodles have cooked up a multi-billion dollar global empire, from Vietnam’s 73 annual servings per capita and a booming plant-based segment to South Korea's $850 million in exports and a relentless late-night crunch that shows no signs of slowing down.

Key Takeaways

The global instant ramen market was valued at USD 7.3 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 11.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.5%.
In 2023, the U.S. instant ramen market generated approximately USD 1.02 billion in revenue.
Japan's ramen market size reached JPY 1.2 trillion in 2022, with instant ramen contributing 40%.
The global instant ramen market produced 123.1 billion servings in 2023.
Nissin Foods produced 4.5 billion packs of instant ramen in 2023 globally.
In 2022, China manufactured 46.62 billion servings of instant noodles.
Global per capita instant ramen consumption averaged 15 servings in 2023.
Vietnam leads with 73 servings per capita annual instant ramen consumption in 2022.
Nigeria has 20 servings per capita consumption yearly.
42% of millennials consume ramen 2-3 times weekly.
68% of Gen Z prefer plant-based ramen options in 2023 surveys.
Spicy flavors hold 60% preference among US ramen consumers.
South Korea exported USD 850 million worth of instant ramen in 2023.
China imported 500,000 tons of ramen ingredients in 2023.
US imported 1.2 billion USD in instant ramen in 2023.

The instant ramen market is growing globally with strong demand across many countries.

Consumer Trends

42% of millennials consume ramen 2-3 times weekly.
68% of Gen Z prefer plant-based ramen options in 2023 surveys.
Spicy flavors hold 60% preference among US ramen consumers.
55% of consumers seek low-sodium ramen variants.
Premium artisanal ramen appeals to 35% of high-income buyers.
72% of Asian consumers prefer traditional tonkotsu broth.
Vegan ramen demand rose 25% in Europe 2023.
48% of parents buy ramen for children under 12.
Health-conscious consumers (28%) opt for whole grain ramen.
61% prefer customizable ramen kits at home.
Chicken flavor dominates 40% of global preferences.
37% of consumers influenced by social media ramen reviews.
Sustainable packaging sways 52% of purchases.
44% seek gluten-free ramen options.
Older adults (50+) consumption up 18% for nostalgic flavors.
70% of urban youth pair ramen with beer.
E-commerce ramen sales grew 40% among 18-24 year olds.

Consumer Trends Interpretation

The ramen bowl is now a generational battleground where spice-loving millennials clash with kaleidoscopic Gen Z vegans, while a sneaky older generation sneaks in through the nostalgia door and everyone, regardless of age, just really wants a low-sodium, Instagrammable kit with sustainable packaging they can customize while drinking a beer.

Consumption Patterns

Global per capita instant ramen consumption averaged 15 servings in 2023.
Vietnam leads with 73 servings per capita annual instant ramen consumption in 2022.
Nigeria has 20 servings per capita consumption yearly.
South Korea consumes 80 servings per capita per year.
Japan per capita consumption is 40 servings annually.
US average is 14 servings per capita per year.
China consumes 30 servings per capita yearly.
Indonesia per capita 55 servings.
45% of US college students consume instant ramen weekly.
In 2023, global instant ramen sales reached 123 billion servings.
60% of instant ramen consumed worldwide is eaten at home.
Late-night snacking accounts for 35% of ramen consumption in urban areas.
25% of global ramen consumption is cup noodles vs. bag types.
Women account for 52% of instant ramen buyers in supermarkets globally.
70% of ramen consumed in Asia is spicy flavor variant.
US ramen consumption up 15% post-pandemic in 2023.
40% of Brazilians eat instant ramen monthly.
Average household ramen consumption in India is 10 packs per month.
55% of Vietnamese consume ramen daily.
Europeans consume 5 servings per capita annually.
65% of South Korean ramen eaten as midnight snack.
Global ramen vending machine sales represent 2% of total consumption.
30% increase in ramen home cooking during 2023 economic pressures.

Consumption Patterns Interpretation

While South Korea and Vietnam duel for nocturnal noodle supremacy and the U.S. gradually warms to ramen's charms, the globe is quietly united in a bowl, proving that in a world of economic pressure and late-night cravings, instant ramen is the humble, spicy, and increasingly universal currency of comfort.

Exports & Imports

South Korea exported USD 850 million worth of instant ramen in 2023.
China imported 500,000 tons of ramen ingredients in 2023.
US imported 1.2 billion USD in instant ramen in 2023.
Japan exported JPY 100 billion in ramen products 2023.
Vietnam exported 200,000 tons of instant noodles in 2023.
Indonesia's ramen exports to Middle East up 20% to USD 50 million.
Thailand ramen exports reached THB 10 billion in 2023.
EU imported EUR 300 million instant ramen from Asia 2023.
Brazil imported 100,000 tons from Asia in 2023.
Australia imported AUD 150 million ramen products.
Philippines exported USD 20 million instant ramen regionally.
India's ramen imports grew 15% to INR 2,000 crore.
Canada imported CAD 200 million from US and Asia.
Mexico ramen imports USD 150 million, mainly Korean.
UK post-Brexit ramen imports EUR 100 million.
Global ramen trade volume 2.5 million tons in 2023.
Nongshim USA imports 80% of its supply from Korea.
Top export destination for Korean ramen is China (30%).
Instant ramen tariffs averaged 5-10% in major importers.
Myanmar exported 50,000 tons to neighbors in 2023.

Exports & Imports Interpretation

With a global slurp heard 'round the world, the ramen trade is a multi-billion-dollar web where noodles and ambition are packaged together and shipped everywhere from Seoul to São Paulo, proving that comfort food is now serious international business.

Market Size & Revenue

The global instant ramen market was valued at USD 7.3 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 11.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.5%.
In 2023, the U.S. instant ramen market generated approximately USD 1.02 billion in revenue.
Japan's ramen market size reached JPY 1.2 trillion in 2022, with instant ramen contributing 40%.
The Asia-Pacific region dominates the instant ramen market with a 75% share in 2023.
Europe’s instant ramen sector grew by 8% YoY in 2023 to EUR 800 million.
South Korea's ramen exports contributed KRW 1.1 trillion to the economy in 2023.
The premium ramen segment in the US grew 12% in 2023, reaching USD 250 million.
Global plant-based ramen market valued at USD 500 million in 2023, expected to double by 2028.
India's instant noodles market expanded to INR 10,000 crore in FY2023.
Vietnam's instant noodle consumption market worth VND 50 trillion in 2023.
Brazil's ramen import market valued at BRL 1.5 billion in 2022.
Australia’s instant ramen sales reached AUD 300 million in 2023.
The organic ramen niche market in North America was USD 120 million in 2023.
Thailand's domestic ramen market hit THB 40 billion in 2023.
Global cup noodle segment accounted for 45% of instant ramen market share in 2023.
UK instant ramen market grew to GBP 150 million in 2023.
Indonesia's instant noodle market revenue was IDR 80 trillion in 2023.
Canada's ramen market valued at CAD 400 million in 2023.
Mexico's growing ramen market reached MXN 5 billion in 2023.

Market Size & Revenue Interpretation

It appears humanity's collective answer to "What's for dinner?" is increasingly a salty, brothy pact that has become a multi-billion-dollar global empire built on instant noodles, from Japan's foundational bowls to the booming premium and plant-based sectors in the West.

Production Volumes

The global instant ramen market produced 123.1 billion servings in 2023.
Nissin Foods produced 4.5 billion packs of instant ramen in 2023 globally.
In 2022, China manufactured 46.62 billion servings of instant noodles.
Indonesia produced 16.15 billion servings of instant ramen in 2022.
Vietnam's instant noodle production reached 9.08 billion packs in 2022.
Japan manufactured 5.52 billion servings of instant ramen in 2022.
South Korea produced 8.18 billion servings in 2022.
India's instant noodle production was 7.97 billion servings in 2022.
USA produced 4.40 billion servings of instant ramen in 2022.
Thailand manufactured 5.43 billion servings in 2022.
Philippines produced 3.04 billion servings in 2022.
Myanmar's production hit 2.00 billion servings in 2022.
Brazil produced 1.50 billion servings of instant ramen in 2022.
Nigeria manufactured 1.20 billion servings in 2022.
World Ramen Association reported 118.5 billion servings produced globally in 2022.
Nongshim Co. produced 3.2 billion units in South Korea in 2023.
Indofood (Indonesia) output 12 billion packs annually as of 2023.
Acecook Vietnam produced 4.5 billion servings in 2023.
Uni-President (Taiwan) manufactured 2.8 billion packs in 2023.
Ottogi produced 2.1 billion servings in South Korea 2023.
Maruchan USA produced 2.5 billion servings in 2023.
Prima Food (Myanmar) output 1.8 billion in 2023.
MAMA (Thailand) brand produced 3.5 billion servings in 2023.
Top Ramen India production reached 4 billion packs in 2023.

Production Volumes Interpretation

While the world spins in complexity, over 120 billion times a year we collectively agree that the answer, for now, is a simple, steaming cup of instant noodles.

Sources & References

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