Veganism still reaches a small share of adults. In France, 2% of adults reported being vegan in 2018, and Europe accounted for 33.0% of the plant-based food market in 2022. The evidence on health and nutrition is mixed, with vegan diets linked to a lower type 2 diabetes risk and a clear vitamin B12 supplementation need.
Key Takeaways
- 2% of adults in France reported being vegan in 2018 (YouGov data cited in French media)
- Europe accounted for 33.0% of the plant-based food market in 2022 (MarketsandMarkets)
- Global meat substitutes market size was $8.2 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $22.7 billion by 2027 (MarketsandMarkets)
- Europe has the largest plant-based dairy alternatives market share (43% in 2023, per IMARC Group)
- A vegan diet can reduce land-use by about 75% compared with a typical omnivorous diet (Our World in Data summary of Poore & Nemecek 2018)
- Animal-sourced foods account for 66% of biodiversity loss from food systems (Poore & Nemecek, 2018, Science)
- Vegan diets were associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes incidence in a meta-analysis (relative risk 0.86; 95% CI 0.76–0.97)
- In a meta-analysis, vegetarians (including vegan diets) had a lower LDL-cholesterol level than omnivores by about 0.18 mmol/L (effect size summarized in peer-reviewed review)
- A 2022 umbrella review reported vegetarian/vegan diets are associated with an average reduction of systolic blood pressure of about 4.8 mmHg compared with omnivorous diets (peer-reviewed)
- Plant-based food labels in the U.S. are required to meet FDA nutrition labeling rules; the FDA requires serving size and nutrient declaration for packaged foods under 21 CFR 101.9
- The EU Novel Foods Regulation requires pre-market authorization for foods produced via novel processes; Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 applies to novel foods marketed in the EU
- The EU states that processed food labeling must not mislead consumers (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers)
- 2.4% of adults in England reported being vegan in 2022 (NHS Digital / Health Survey for England self-reported dietary status via UK data release)
- 2.0% of adults in England reported being vegan in 2021 (NHS Digital / Health Survey for England), indicating year-to-year stability in prevalence
- In the Adventist Health Study, vegetarians had 12% lower overall mortality than non-vegetarians (relative risk 0.88), indicating an association between vegetarian eating patterns and mortality risk
Veganism is still rare, but evidence links it with health benefits and major environmental gains.
Related reading
01 · Category
User Adoption1 stats
01
2% of adults in France reported being vegan in 2018 (YouGov data cited in French media)
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
For the user adoption picture, veganism remains rare in France since only 2% of adults reported being vegan in 2018, indicating very limited mainstream uptake.
02 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
Europe accounted for 33.0% of the plant-based food market in 2022 (MarketsandMarkets)
02
Global meat substitutes market size was $8.2 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $22.7 billion by 2027 (MarketsandMarkets)
03
Europe has the largest plant-based dairy alternatives market share (43% in 2023, per IMARC Group)
04
$3.7 billion global plant-based meat alternatives market in 2022 (IMARC Group)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size data shows plant-based foods are scaling fast, with the global plant-based meat alternatives market hitting $3.7 billion in 2022 and the meat substitutes market projected to grow from $8.2 billion to $22.7 billion by 2027, while Europe already leads in regional share with 33.0% of the plant-based food market in 2022 and a 43% share of plant-based dairy alternatives in 2023.
03 · Category
Environmental Impact2 stats
01
A vegan diet can reduce land-use by about 75% compared with a typical omnivorous diet (Our World in Data summary of Poore & Nemecek 2018)
02
Animal-sourced foods account for 66% of biodiversity loss from food systems (Poore & Nemecek, 2018, Science)
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
Under the environmental impact framing, vegan diets can cut land use by about 75% versus typical omnivorous diets, and shifting away from animal-sourced foods matters because they drive 66% of biodiversity loss in food systems.
04 · Category
Health & Nutrition10 stats
01
Vegan diets were associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes incidence in a meta-analysis (relative risk 0.86; 95% CI 0.76–0.97)
02
In a meta-analysis, vegetarians (including vegan diets) had a lower LDL-cholesterol level than omnivores by about 0.18 mmol/L (effect size summarized in peer-reviewed review)
03
A 2022 umbrella review reported vegetarian/vegan diets are associated with an average reduction of systolic blood pressure of about 4.8 mmHg compared with omnivorous diets (peer-reviewed)
04
In a randomized trial comparing a vegan diet to a diabetes-appropriate omnivorous diet, HbA1c decreased by 0.6% over 22 weeks in the vegan group (study data)
05
Vegan diets are nutritionally challenging for vitamin B12 without supplementation; the NIH fact sheet states recommended intake is 2.4 mcg/day for adults
06
The NIH fact sheet states adequate intake for alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is 1.6 g/day for men and 1.1 g/day for women (often used in vegan omega-3 planning)
07
A vegan diet increases risk of vitamin B12 deficiency without supplements; up to 10–28% of vegans may show biochemical deficiency markers in some studies (peer-reviewed review)
08
In a cohort study of adventist health, vegetarians had a 12% lower overall mortality than non-vegetarians (relative risk 0.88)
09
A 2020 systematic review found vegan diets have higher odds of dietary fiber intake compared with omnivores, with mean fiber intake increase of about 5–10 g/day depending on study (peer-reviewed synthesis)
10
A systematic review found vegan diets can reduce body weight by about 2.5–5.0 kg on average over intervention periods (peer-reviewed meta-analysis)
Interpretation
Health & Nutrition Interpretation
For the Health and Nutrition angle, the evidence suggests vegan and related plant based diets may meaningfully improve metabolic health, with a 0.86 relative risk for type 2 diabetes incidence, about 0.18 mmol/L lower LDL cholesterol, and an average systolic blood pressure reduction of roughly 4.8 mmHg, while also requiring attention to key nutrients like vitamin B12.
More related reading
05 · Category
Regulation & Policy9 stats
01
Plant-based food labels in the U.S. are required to meet FDA nutrition labeling rules; the FDA requires serving size and nutrient declaration for packaged foods under 21 CFR 101.9
02
The EU Novel Foods Regulation requires pre-market authorization for foods produced via novel processes; Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 applies to novel foods marketed in the EU
03
The EU states that processed food labeling must not mislead consumers (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers)
04
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) establishes the Organic Rules in 7 CFR Part 205 for certified organic products including plant-based items
05
UK food information law is governed by retained EU Regulation 1169/2011; it sets rules on nutrition labeling formats (retained law)
06
The EU’s sustainability claims rules require substantiation under Regulation (EU) 2020/852 (taxonomy and sustainability framework) for certain disclosures
07
European Commission’s “Food Improvement Agents” and “Novel Food” processes are overseen under applicable EU food law; Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 defines general food law and establishes EFSA risk assessment
08
In the Netherlands, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) states recommended daily amount of vitamin B12 intake for adults is 2.8 mcg/day (used in national guidance for vegan diets)
09
EU consumers can report misleading “organic” claims; Regulation (EU) 2018/848 sets rules on organic production and labeling
Interpretation
Regulation & Policy Interpretation
Across major markets, vegan and plant based products are increasingly governed by detailed, preauthorization and labeling compliance rules, from the EU’s pre market approval under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and the UK’s retained nutrition labeling framework based on Regulation 1169/2011 to the EU’s new sustainability claims substantiation under Regulation (EU) 2020/852 and the U.S. FDA requirement to follow serving size and nutrient labeling rules.
06 · Category
Health Outcomes6 stats
01
2.4% of adults in England reported being vegan in 2022 (NHS Digital / Health Survey for England self-reported dietary status via UK data release)
02
2.0% of adults in England reported being vegan in 2021 (NHS Digital / Health Survey for England), indicating year-to-year stability in prevalence
03
In the Adventist Health Study, vegetarians had 12% lower overall mortality than non-vegetarians (relative risk 0.88), indicating an association between vegetarian eating patterns and mortality risk
04
In a pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials, low-fat vegan diets were associated with an average reduction in HbA1c of about 0.3% compared with control diets (systematic review meta-analysis, 2019)
05
A 2017 meta-analysis found that vegetarian diets reduced HbA1c by about 0.3% relative to non-vegetarian diets (meta-analysis estimate used as a clinical effect magnitude)
06
Vegetarian diets have been associated with LDL-cholesterol reductions of roughly 0.24 mmol/L compared with omnivorous diets in a meta-analysis (2015 peer-reviewed evidence summary)
Interpretation
Health Outcomes Interpretation
For the health outcomes angle, the data suggest modest but consistent metabolic benefits from plant-based diets, with HbA1c reductions of about 0.3% reported in both pooled randomized trials and a 2017 meta-analysis, alongside LDL cholesterol drops around 0.24 mmol/L compared with omnivorous diets.
07 · Category
Nutrition & Safety4 stats
01
A 2018/2019 study of vegan adults reported that 73% had vitamin B12 intake at or above recommended levels when supplement use is included (peer-reviewed observational data)
02
Iodine intakes are frequently below recommendations among adults following plant-based diets; one review quantified mean iodine intake around 100 µg/day for vegans (systematic review, 2017)
03
A 2018 review found omega-3 (ALA) intake tends to be higher in vegans than omnivores, with conversion to EPA/DHA remaining limited (reviewed quantitative findings)
04
In a randomized crossover study, a fortified vegan diet achieved blood vitamin B12 levels comparable to omnivores after 8–12 weeks of supplementation (clinical trial results)
Interpretation
Nutrition & Safety Interpretation
For Nutrition and Safety, the research suggests vegan adults often meet vitamin B12 needs when supplements are used, with 73% in a 2018 to 2019 study at or above recommended levels, but key nutrients like iodine still commonly fall short while omega-3 conversion to EPA and DHA remains limited.
report visual · Projection
Vegan prevalence is low but appears steady
Recent UK survey data show vegan prevalence in England around ~2% and stable year-to-year.
2 % of adults
Start
+4.66%
CAGR · 4y
2.4 % of adults
Projected
20212025
source-verifiedfiles.digital.nhs.uk · ouest-france.fr2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Veganism Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/veganism-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Veganism Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/veganism-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Veganism Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/veganism-statistics.
Sources & references
36 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)