Compared to all the countries in the world, the UK has the most vegans. Recent statistics show that the popularity of veganism is growing in the UK. Searches for vegan restaurants with dedicated vegan menus have tripled in the past four years. In 2017 there were 60,000 searches for vegan restaurants, while in 2020, there were over 200,000. Plenty of advertisem*nts and famous media personalities push the many benefits of veganism in the UK, adding to its popularity.
The country with the second-most vegans is Australia. Similar to the UK, Australia has seen a surge in searches for vegan restaurants, most notably in the last four years. Many driving forces surrounding veganism’s popularity are connected to climate change and the harmful impacts humans have on the earth with harmful agricultural practices. The pandemic has also led to an increase in veganism in Australia.
Nearly 5% of all Israel citizens identify as vegan and will only eat vegan food. Veganism coincides nicely with the popular Mediterranean foods and the ongoing kosher rules, making vegan restaurants easy to find. It is also easy to find the ingredients needed to produce a vegan-friendly meal locally, adding to veganism’s eco-friendly and sustainable aspect.
Like its Australian neighbor, New Zealand has plenty of vegans. In a recent survey conducted in 2019, nearly 15% of the population admitted to eating a meat-free diet. Current Google trends and data also support this claim. In 2020, the number of searches focused on vegan cheese, recipes, and restaurants was up over 50% compared to just one year prior.
Switzerland is the first European country to make our list for having the most vegans. In this country, a recent survey found that nearly ⅓ of all Swiss people were actively attempting to reduce their meat consumption. While this doesn’t truly align with veganism, it is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.
These countries are tied when it comes to the total amount of vegans living in the country. Veganism in Germany and Austria is at a record high. Germany already had a leading amount of vegetarians, but many of these citizens have started to transform to veganism. Germany is the top producer of plant-based vegan meats, making vegan menu options available throughout the country.
Sweden is very health-conscientious, so veganism works perfectly well within their cultural constructs. There are even all-vegan schools in Sweden. Many vegan food innovations, like vegan Bolognese and veggie schnitzel, have originated in Sweden.
FAQs
Based on these results and the current population estimates for each country, we calculated that roughly 25 million people worldwide chose to try vegan in January 2024.
Which country is #1 for vegans? ›
India. Three of India's major religions — Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism — teach the practice of ahimsa, or non-violence towards all beings. Because of this religious tradition, India has the highest percentage of vegetarians out of all the countries in the world.
Is veganism growing or declining? ›
In Q1 of 2022, the global score for veganism popularity dipped below 60. The trend was similar in the United States, with a peak score of more than 80 in 2019 and a gradual decline to about 60 in Q1 of 2022.
How many vegans are there per country? ›
Summary table
| Country | Vegetarians (% of population) | Vegans (% of population) |
|---|
| India | 20–39% | 9% |
| Ireland | 4.3–8.4% | 2.0%–4.1% |
| Israel | 13% | 5% |
| Italy | 5.9–8.9% | 0.2–3.0% |
41 more rowsPlant-based eating is on the rise. An international survey by food service provider Sodexo found that 73% of those surveyed felt an urgency to adopt a more sustainable way of eating, and that's driving trends in plant-based alternative meats and milks.
What are the results of veganuary 2024? ›
Veganuary, the global organisation encouraging people to try vegan in January and beyond, has released the results from its 2024 participant survey that found the majority of respondents (82%) plan to make 'significant' and permanent diet changes after participating.
Which US city has the most vegans? ›
The top 20 vegan cities in the US
- Portland, Oregon.
- Los Angeles, California.
- Orlando, Florida.
- San Diego, California.
- Phoenix, Arizona.
- San Francisco, California.
- Seattle, Washington.
- Miami, Florida.
The world's largest concentration of Vegans and vegetarians is found in India where an estimated 400 million people live either plant based or meat free.
Which country is 100% non-vegetarian? ›
Which Country is 100% Non Vegetarian? As per our findings, there's no country where 100% of the population is non-vegetarian. However, some countries have a higher consumption of meat because of cultural or religious factors, i.e., China, Brazil, and the USA, among others.
Why is veganism losing popularity? ›
The cost of living crisis
A study commissioned by Insure4Sport in 2022 found vegan products delivered less value for money than their meat or dairy counterparts. A homemade lentil curry is one thing; but cooking vegan is “going to be more expensive if you are using meat substitutes,” says Banks.
Potential Nutrient Deficiencies — A vegan diet may lack certain essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein. It's crucial to carefully plan your diet to ensure you get all necessary nutrients.
Do vegans age less? ›
The reality is that you won't look like you're 25 forever – no matter how “clean” or “healthy” or your diet might be. While there are a variety of health benefits associated with following a vegan diet, eating a vegan diet won't make you age faster or slower in and of itself.
What cultures do not eat meat? ›
Plant-based eating is deeply rooted in three of the prominent religions practiced in India – Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. All these religions believe in the concept of Ahimsa, which means kindness and non-violence towards all living things.
How much of the USA is vegan? ›
About four percent of the U.S. population follows a vegan diet. It is noteworthy that the number of vegans is so small, that surveys have a hard time clearly showing how many vegans there are. Even slight deviations can result in the share of vegans being halved or doubled.
How healthy is veganism? ›
While studies have shown that a vegan diet (VD) may be associated with improved health outcomes [6,7], the negative health repercussions of these food preferences, on the other hand, are rarely highlighted, and veganism may be associated with negative health effects due to nutritional deficiencies.
How many people will be vegan in the future? ›
As of January 2021, about 1% of the world's population is vegan, which amounts to roughly 79 million people. Since veganism is on the rise, this percentage is likely to grow steadily over the next few years. The prediction is that by 2031, one in ten people will be vegan.
How many people were vegan in 2014? ›
But Top Trends in Prepared Foods 2017, a report by GlobalData, estimated that "6% of US consumers now claim to be vegan, up from just 1% in 2014." In 2020, YouGov published results of 2019 research that showed only 2.26% reported being vegan.
Will most people be vegan in the future? ›
As per the reports of PETA, by 2050, more than 25% of the animal meat market is expected to be the vegan market, that is, the plant-based market. People have also noticed an increase in the vegetarian food menu in restaurants, which indicates a rising inclination towards a vegan diet.
Is the vegan population increasing? ›
Survey results over recent years show the number of people ditching meat is on the rise. The increasing number of people opting for a compassionate lifestyle is reflected in the huge rise in the number of vegan options available from supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and online shops.
