10 Most Consumed Meats in the World

We all have our favorites when it comes to meat, but the most consumed meats in the world are obviously the worldwide favorites. All the talks might be surrounded around vegans and healthy eaters lately, but the truth is the world harbors a large non-vegetarian community that swears by their meat. The average world consumption of meat is a little over 40 kgs per person annually which proves that the demand for meat is quite large.

In countries like China, the demand is also ever-growing and is expected to rise by 80% in the coming decade. All this data only points to the fact that the meat industry is one of the most significant in the food business and therefore some analysis towards which products are the most popular is but likely. Of course, you can also be looking at this article for just being a die-hard meat lover also. Clearly, some meats are being consumed more than others around the world. Some, like poultry, owe their popularity to their price and their ease of production. Poultry has always been cheap to produce and hence has gained popularity over the years. Some other meats are in demand for being traditionally the preferred meat in a specified area or country. To some extent poultry has also been consumed around the world as most religions allow the consumption of poultry, unlike some other meats. So, is poultry the most consumed meat in the world?

There are a few approaches by which the consumption around the world can be determined. For instance, it can be based on either the head count of animals slaughtered or the total weight of meats supplied. For the purpose of this article we are considering the former, and we have based our results on reliable sources of data by Food and Agriculture Organization, USDA and COED. We have considered their data on the most consumed types of meats worldwide and have also determined the consumption level of individual types of meats which have led to our rankings. Do also take a look at our other list of the 10 countries that eat the most meat to see how the meat eaters of the world are spread worldwide and which are the places where the consumption is the highest. Read on ahead to find out which are the meats being preferred around the world!

10. Rabbit

Rabbit meat is all white meat and contains easily digestible proteins. Hence, it is one of the preferred meats in the world, even though they are not the most popular. The world consumption of rabbit meat is around 1 million tons. The most popular rabbit meat consuming countries are Spain, France, and China.

9. Goose

Asia and particularly China dominates the world production of Goose. Even though figures for goose meat consumption are smaller compared to the other poultry production, there has been a steady growth in its production. The world production now stands somewhere close to 2.5 million tons.

8. Sheep

In some countries like Australia, China, and the Middle East, sheep (or lamb) meat is a staple. Sheep meat has a mild flavor that is enjoyed by many and it keeps rising in popularity. It is also a source of high-quality protein.

7. Duck

Top duck consuming countries include China, France, and Malaysia and consumption is as high as 4.5kg per capita. Global duck production is close to 4.5 million tons. Duck meat is not only delicious but also quite rich in nutrients.

6. Turkey

The US are one of the highest turkey producing countries in the world while per capita consumption in Israel is the highest at around 11.25 kgs. Even though turkey producing countries are fewer compared to countries producing other kinds of meats, the global production stands at 5.6 million tons.

5. Goat

A lot of cultures around the world are big consumers of goat meat and the world production is as huge as 13 million tons. China yet again leads the world goat meat consumption, accounting for over 42% of the world total. It is closely followed by India and Pakistan.

4. Beef

Considered to be one of the most delicious meats around, beef remains a popular choice even after the health red flags. World production of beef is projected at 59 million tons in 2016 and it accounts for around 25% of the total world meat consumed.

3. Chicken

Chicken is most definitely one of the most consumed meats around the world and very evenly distributed in its consumption. Since it is preferred by most countries and religions and easy to produce the total production stands at 89.7 million tons. The USA is the largest chicken producer and per capita consumption in highest in the country at 43 kgs.

2. Fish

There are a variety of fishes consumed worldwide and is highly preferred for its nutritional benefits. With over 100 million tons of consumption worldwide it sure makes for a popular meat source.

1. Pork

Pork commands around 36% of the total world meat consumption. We can see how that is a significant amount and with 109 million tons consumed every year, it clearly tops the list of the most consumed meats in the world.