Share of vegetarians in the United States in 2022, by age

During a survey carried out between July 2021 and June 2022, approximately seven percent of people in the United States aged between 20 and 29 said they were following a vegetarian diet. The share of vegetarian among respondents aged between 50 and 59 was much lower at two percent.

Vegetarianism in the U.S.

The main reasons for following a meat-free diet in the U.S. are to be healthier, lose weight, or due to concerns about animal welfare. Approximately five percent of U.S. consumers follow a vegetarian diet. Only India has a share of vegetarians that is considerably higher. According to a survey, the South Asian country has by far the highest share of vegetarians worldwide, with almost a quarter of the population following a vegetarian diet.

Meat consumption in the U.S.

While many people follow meat-free diets in the U.S., meat remains to be an essential part of the majority of consumers’ diets. In 2020, per capita meat consumption in the U.S. amounted to approximately 225 pounds. Chicken was the most consumed meat, followed by beef and pork. Consumption is forecast to slightly grow within the next ten years. The leading U.S. meat and poultry processing companies based on sales are Tyson Foods Inc. and JBS USA Holdings Inc.