What is the most eaten meat in the world?
Poultry, mostly chicken, and pork are the most eaten meats in the world. Poultry has recently overtaken pork as the most produced meat, while pork is especially popular in China and Europe.
For many years, pork was the world's most consumed meat, largely because of its popularity in China, which eats about half of the world's pork. Poultry production has grown quickly, because chickens grow fast, require less feed per kilogram of meat and are accepted by most religions and cultures. Recent data from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization show poultry now slightly ahead.
Beef is the third most consumed meat, with high consumption in countries like the United States, Brazil and Argentina. Sheep and goat meat are important in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Changing diets
Global meat consumption has grown as incomes rise, especially in Asia. At the same time, interest in plant-based diets and meat alternatives has increased in many countries because of concerns about health, animal welfare and the environmental impact of livestock farming.
Did You Know?
Islam and Judaism forbid eating pork, and many Hindus do not eat beef, which shapes meat consumption in different regions.