Global pork production 2023 & 2024, by country

In 2023, global pork production was led by China, which produced over 55 million metric tons of pork in that year. The European Union and the United States held the second and third positions, respectively. In that year, global pork production amounted to over 120 million metric tons.

Pig farming in China

As China has experienced rapid economic growth, the demand for pork in the country has too increased. Although, the majority of pig farms in China are small scale operations, the introduction of factory farming methods with large scale production of swine is on the rise. The development of modern farms has been one of the most important factors in satisfying the increasing demand for pork in China. As of 2022, there were 452 million pigs in China, more than any other country.

Global meat consumption

The most commonly consumed meats in world are poultry and pork, though in the next several years poultry is expected to overtake pork in popularity. Global consumption of pork is projected to increase from 112.6 metric kilotons in 2021 to about 129 metric kilotons by 2031. In the United States however, per capita consumption of red meat is expected to level off at a little over 110 pounds.