Whether for health reasons, climate change or animal welfare, vegan statistics show the plant-based population continues to spike. Now, it seems as though everyone knows at least one vegan in their lives. Even celebrities and professional athletes are picking up on the trend.
Whether for health reasons, climate change or animal welfare, vegan
statistics show the plant-based population continues to spike.
Now, it seems as though everyone knows at least one vegan in their lives. Even
celebrities and professional athletes are picking up on the trend.
Businesses have taken notice, too. The vegan market has boomed, resulting in
thousands of new vegan products. And restaurants and fast-food chains are
starting to accommodate with plant-based options.
The growing trend of veganism isn’t just speculative, however. There are actual
vegan statistics that prove that the vegan lifestyle won’t fizzle out any time
soon.
Key statistics and facts:
6% of U.S. consumers say they are vegan — a 600% increase compared to just 1% in
2014.1
In Great Britain, approximately 1.16% of the population (600,000 people)
reported being vegan in 2018 — a 300% increase from 2014, when 150,000, or 0.25%
of the population, was reported.2
For more info on these stats and others, read on.
General Vegan Statistics: The Vegan Population
Vegan population statistics are difficult to capture, but there are many
polls and surveys that have estimated the number of vegans in the United
States, UK and other major countries.
Vegan Population Statistics in the United States
In 2014, only 1% of the American population labeled themselves as vegan. In
2017, that figure spiked to 6%. This sixfold increase was reported by the
research firm GlobalData.
What’s interesting is the 39% of people who aren’t vegan but who actively
try to incorporate plant-based foods into their diets. This is demonstrated
by a 2017 report by the global analytics company Nielson.
Who is leading this steady increase in vegan popularity? A recent 2018
survey shows that nearly 40% of millennials identify as vegan. Baby Boomers
and Generation X tie at 21% each, with only 2% of seniors labeling
themselves vegan.
Vegan Population Statistics in the UK
Veganism is also booming in Great Britain with a 400% increase over the last
two years. In 2016, Ipsos reported that 3.25% of Great Britain aged 15 and
older “never eat meat of any form as part of their diet.”
The Vegan Society reports that as of 2018, there were about 600,000 vegans
in Great Britain (1.16% of the population). This was an approximately 300%
increase in vegans in Great Britain from 2014, when 150,000, or 0.25% of the
population, was reported to be vegan.
The same report demonstrates that 14% of the UK are vegetarian and another
31% are actively eating less meat.
Global Vegan and Vegetarian Population Statistics
Around the world, the popularity of meatless diets is soaring.
A completely animal-free diet is the most popular in Western countries like
the U.S. and UK, but vegetarianism and veganism are slowly increasing
globally:
Demand for Vegan Products
As more people ditch animal products for plant foods, food companies are
responding to the demand and giving consumers what they want. There are more
options for vegan meats, cheeses, milks, eggs and other products than ever
before.
Vegan Milk Statistics
The global plant milk market was worth over $8 billion in 2016 and is
expected to exceed $21 billion by 2024, according to Global Market Insights.
Soy milk and coconut milk are expected to top the plant milk sales charts.
As sales for non-dairy milk go up, sales in the dairy industry are steadily
declining. U.S. consumption of non-dairy milk increased by 61% while
consumption of cow’s milk decreased by 22%.
While some dairy farms are closing after decades of operations, non-dairy
milk products are emerging left and right. In recent years, non-dairy milk
options have grown from the standard soy milk and almond milk to include
coconut, hemp, rice, oat, pea, cashew and more.
Plant-Based Meat and Fast-Food Statistics
The global vegan meat market is also growing steadily. Allied Market
Research estimates the market will reach $7.5 billion by 2025, naming Beyond
Meat as one of the leading meat substitute products. They expect Europe to
dominate the market and the Asia-Pacific will experience exponential growth.
An area where vegan food performs really well is in fast-food restaurants.
In recent years, several meat-free fast-food restaurants have opened across
the U.S. These include Veggie Grill, Plant Power Fast Food, Monty’s Good
Burger and Amy’s Drive Thru.
The owner of Plant Power Fast Food told Forbes that their new San Diego
location has experienced a 63% surge of growth. According to the owner, it’s
not vegans who are responsible for the vegan restaurant’s quick success.
Rather, it’s omnivores who are interested in trying vegan fast-food.
Non-vegan fast-food restaurants like Taco Bell and Fatburger are also
starting to cater to vegans. Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are now
available in thousands of U.S. locations, including Taco Bell and Fatburger,
respectively.
Large fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut test vegan options in
their European locations. McDonald’s released a McVegan burger in Sweden and
Finland. Similarly, Pizza Hut offers vegan cheese in its UK locations.
Vegan Industry Statistics
The 400% increase of vegans in the UK is shocking, but the 1,500% increase
in plant-based food sales in the UK is even more shocking.
Similarly, vegan food products grew by 92% between 2014-2016, according to a
report by Mintel, as the Australian population becomes more health
conscious.
It’s not just vegan food that’s increasing in popularity. According to Grand
View Research, vegan fashion is on a steady incline. The vegan leather
industry is anticipated to hit $85 billion by 2025 as faux leather shoes are
significantly cheaper than genuine animal hide footwear.
Vegan Sustainability Statistics
One of the core reasons why vegan product alternatives are increasing in
popularity is because of the consumer’s growing understanding of the
sustainability of veganism.
Meat eaters are turning to vegan meats like the Beyond Burger and Impossible
Burger because the plant-based alternatives require fewer resources.
A 2018 Oxford University study found that the single biggest way to reduce
your environmental impact is to avoid animal products. This is largely
because more than 80% of farmland is dedicated to livestock animals raised
for meat and dairy, yet these food products only account for about 18% of
calories and 37% of protein consumption.
A 2010 United Nation report stated that a global move to a plant-based diet
is necessary to save the world from starvation, fuel poverty and the worst
impacts of climate change.
Documentaries like Cowspiracy have educated many consumers on the
significant impacts that animal agriculture has on the environment and
Earth’s resources. They focus on greenhouse gases, water, land use, waste,
oceans, rainforest, wildlife and humanity. Some of the main takeaways
include:
Vegan Athletes and Celebrities
Among the millions of vegans around the world are notable celebrities and
professional athletes.
Some celebrities like Alicia Silverstone, Joaquin Phoenix, Moby, Woody
Harrelson, Paul McCartney and Peter Dinklage have been vegan for decades.
Other vegan celebrities in the U.S. include Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth,
Natalie Portman and Beyonce.
Vegan celebrities from the UK include Ellie Goulding, David Haye, Russell
Brand and Morrissey.
There are also several professional athletes who are powered by plants.
Athletes belonging to a vast variety of sports—tennis, bodybuilding,
running, basketball, football, etc.—are converting to plant-based diets.
Some of the strongest, fittest people in the world debunk the myth that you
need meat to get protein and build muscle.
Some notable vegan athletes include Venus Williams, Colin Kaepernick, Kyrie
Irving, Lewis Hamilton, Scott Jurek and Derrick Morgan.
Hope for Future Vegan Statistics
The word “vegan” still has some myths and stereotypes surrounding it. As the
vegan lifestyle enters the mainstream, it’s starting to be positively
associated with the health benefits, sustainability and compassion that come
with it.
The vegan statistics speak for themselves. The reasons why so many people
are swapping animal products for vegan products vary, but the main reasons
hover around health, environment and animal welfare.
Even people who aren’t 100% vegan are showing increased interest in
replacing some of their meals with plant-based alternatives. Fortunately,
the vegan foods market is ever-growing, and the products are becoming more
realistic. Products like the Impossible Burger essentially eliminate the
need to get the flavors of meat, dairy and eggs from animals.
As documentaries, celebrities and vegan social campaigns spread awareness
about the benefits of a vegan diet, the statistics will continue to reflect
the global population’s increasing interest in veganism.
Sources:
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